N.Z. easily beaten in international athletics

Press, 2 April 1979, Page 32

N.Z. easily beaten in international athletics

NZPA Melbourne Australia easily beat New Zealand in their two-day international athletics match that ended at Olympic Park, Melbourne, yesterday.

Australia won 31 of the 35 men and women’s track and field events, scoring 204 points to New Zealand’s 132. A spiteful incident in the men’s 3000-metre steeplechase highlighted an otherwise dull afternoon. The New Zealand junior champion, Peter Renner, a logging contractor from Christchurch, narrowly led the Australian champion, Peter Larkins, with one lap to go. Larkins went on to easily win the event in Bmin 38.5 s from a fellow Australian, Gary Zeuner, with Renner coming in third about twenty seconds behind. Immediately Renner crossed the finishing line he walked up to Larkins and the pair had a heated argument. The meeting manager. Mr Doug Ferrier, intervened. The New Zealand team manager, Mr Ron Havill, then lodged a protest, alleging interference by Larkins. The jury viewed the incident on a television replay and upheld Renner’s protest. Larkins appealed against the decision but the appeal was dismissed and the race went to Zeuner with Renner second and a fellow New Zealander, Allan McLaren, third. Larkins said of the incident: “Renner drifted to the right on every hurdle and it appeared to get worse as he tired. 1 accommodated him by shifting to the right until the last lap where I maintained my ground.” Renner said: “Larkins foot-tripped me.” Larkins described the jury’s decision as “grossly unfair” and said it was ridiculous that the jury did not call either Renner, himself or Zeuner to give evidence. Gary Zeuner refused to go to the victory ceremony and it was scrubbed by officials. New Zealand’s two victories yesterday went to the

world-class javelin thrower, Michael O’Rourke and 10,000-metre runner Tony Good. O’Rourke easily won the three-man competition with a throw of 78.26 metres from his teammate, David Hookway, and the Australian, Gary Calvert. Good, of Christchurch, who is better known as a marathon runner, easily won the 10,000 metres in 30min 3.4 s from his team mate, Chip Dunkley. New Zealand’s two wins on Saturday came from the Auckland distance runner, Allison Deed, and the men’s discus thrower, Robin Tait. Deed, aged 22, convincingly won the 3000 metres in the moderate time of 9 minutes 33.8 seconds, easily defeating the Australian champion, Rhonda Taylor, by 40 metres. The veteran discus thrower, Robin Tait, spun the platter 55.42 metres to defeat an American, Jim Howard, by 70 centimetres with Wayne Martin of Australia third. The 47-member Oceania team to contest the World Cup in Montreal next August should be announced early this week.

The team will be dominated by Australians and will be without the world mile record holder and Olympic 1500-metre champion, John Walker. The Australian sprint queen, Denise Boyd, and the New Zealand 5000-metre star. Rod Dixon, are also not available. Results were:— MEN 100 m: Paul Narraeott (Aust.) 10.71, 1; Rick James (Aust.), 10.77, 2; Barry Besanko (Vic.), 10.78, 3; lan Ferguson (N.Z.), 11.13, 6; Shane Downey (N.Z.), 11.40, 9. 400 m: Colin McQueen (Aust.), 47.29. 1; Don Hanly (Vic.), 47.51, 2; Ross Hawthorne (Aust.), 47.76, 3; Murray Cumberpatch (N.Z.), 50.12, 6; Glen Hasterlow (N.Z.), 51.95, 8.

1500 m: Stephen Foley (Aust.), 3:44.32, 1; David Hoey (Aust.), 3:46.96, 2; Tom Birnie (N.Z.), 3:47.52, 3; Tom Rogers (N.Z.), 3:47.93, 4. 5000 m: David Fitzsimmons (Aust.), 13:48.1 1; Steve Austin (Aust.), 14:12.2, 2; Andre Lambden (Vie.), 14:31.1, 3; Tom Birnie (N.Z.), 15:39.2, 4. 110 m hurdles: Vin Plant (Aust.), 14.09, 1; Max Binnington (Aust.), 14.11. 2; Michael Wilson Vic.), 14.63, 3; Paul Wilson (N.Z.), 15.42, 6; Mark Miron (N.Z.). 15.91, 7. High jump: Michael Dick (Aust.), 2.11 m, 1; Terry Lomax (N.Z.), 2.08, 2; John Knight (Vic.), 2.05. 3; Quinton Rawson (N.Z.), 2.05, 4. Triple jump: lan Campbell (Aust.), 15.95 m, 1; Mick McGrath (N.S.W.), 15.45, 2; Phil Wood (N.Z.), 15.34, 3. (K. Youngson, N.Z., did not compete.) Discus: Robin Tait (N.Z.), 55.42, 1; Jim Howard (U.S.A.), 54.72, 2; Wayne Martin (Aust.), 54.46, 3; Philip Nettle (Aust.), 50.26, 4; Richard Dryden (N.Z.), 50.96, 5. 200 m: Barry Besanko (Aust.), 21.44, 1; Colin O’Sullivan (W.A.), 21.62, 2; lan Ferguson (N.Z.), 22.04, 3; Steve Erkkila (N.Z.), 22.22, 4; Murray Cumberpatch (N.Z.), 22.51, 5. 800 m: John Higham (Aust.), 1:48.75, 1; Alan Gibson (Vic.), 1:48.75, 2; David Hoey (Aust.), 1:48.76, 3: Richard Goldstone (N.Z.), 1:50.45, 4; David Harkness (N.Z.), 1:51.83, 7. 10.000 m: Tony Good (N.Z.), 30:03.4, 1; Chip Dunckley (N.Z.), 30:29.9, 2; Steve Stern (Vic.), 32:28.1, 3; Tau John (P.N.G.), 33:03.0, 3. 20km road walk: Willi Sarvall (Aust.), Ihr 33:58.6. 1: Ross Haywood (Vic.), Ihr 37:08.3, 2; Bill Dyer (Vic.). Ihr 38:55.6, 3. 400 m hurdles: Peter Grant (Aust.), 50.70, 1; Craig Hilliard (Vic.), 52.44. 2: David Robertson (Aust.), 52.55. 3; Chris Strange (N.Z.), 52.78, 6: David Long (N.Z.). 53.68, 8. 3000 m steeplechase: Gary Zeuner (S.A.), 8:47.2, 1; Peter Renner (N.Z.), 8:58.8, 2; Alan McLaren (N.Z.), 9:02.3, 3. 4 x 100 m relay: Australia (Paul Narracott, Rick James, Barry Besanko, Colin McQueen). 40.83, 1; New Zealand (lan Ferguson. Paul ■Wilson, Steve Erkkila. Murray Cumberpatch). 41.80, 2. 4 x 400 m relay: Australia (Gary Honey, Ross Hawthorne, Colin McQueen. Peter Grant), 3:12.1, 1; New Zealand (Paul Wilson, Chris Strange, Murray Cumberpatch, Richard Goldstone). 3:15.5, 2.

Long Jump: Gary Honey (Aust.), 7.58. 1; Ken Youngson (N.Z.). 6.98, 2; Mike Ritchie (N.Z.), 6.91, 3. Pole vault: Ray Boyd (Aust.), 5.25, 1; Robert Huddle (Vic.), 4.75, 2; Mike Ritchie (N.Z.), 4.60, 3. Shot put: Rav Rigby (Aust.), 17.49, 1; Keith Faile (N.Z.), 16.33, 2; Henry Smith (N.Z.), 16.26, 3. Javelin: Mike O’Rourke (N.Z.), 78.26, 1; David Hookway (N.Z.', 68.06, 2; Gary Calvert (Aust.), 67.38, 3.

Hammer throw; Gus Puopolo (Aust.), 62.44, 1; Murray Cheater (N.Z.), 62.40, 2; Andrew Pollock (Vic.), 62.20, 3; Paul Dryden (N.Z.), 54.18, 5. WOMEN 2GOm: Denise Boyd (Aust.), 23.9, 1; Kim Robertson u\.Z.), 23.97, 2; Helen Edwards (Aust.), 23.98, 3; Michelle Gimblett (N.Z.), b. 800 m: Charlene Rendina (Aust.), 2:04.17, 1; Lyn Wilde (N.Z.), 2:06.81, 2; Julie Schwass (N.S.W.), 2:07.02, 3; Verna Burnard (A.ust,), 2:09.35, •*; Allison Deed (N.Z.), 2:31.94, 6. 3000 m: Allison Deed (N.Z.), 9:33.8, 1; Kfionaa Tayior (Aust.), 9:42.5, 2; rrene Cook (Vic.), 10:vi.8, 3; Glenys Quick (N.Z.), 10:18.8, 5. 400 m hurdles: Lyn Young (Vic.), 58.485, 1; Marian O’Shaughnessy (Vic.), 60.27, 2; Sally Hamilton (Aust.), 60.35, 3; Terry Yaxley (N.Z.), 61.42, 4. 4 x 100 m relay: Australia (Denise Boyd, Helen Edwards, Debbie Wells, Penny Gillies), 44.59, 1; New Zealand (Kim Robertson, Gail Swart, Michelle Gimblett, Noelene Hodgins), 46.64, 2. Long jump: Chris Booth (Aust.), 6.04 m, 1; Noelene Hodgins (N.Z.), 5.98 m, 2; Lyn Jacenko (Aust.), 5.96 m, 3; Rachel Patterson (N.Z.), 5.76 m, 5. Discus: Gael Mulhall (Aust.), 54.68 m, 1; Bev Francis (Aust.), 46.30 m, 2; Vai Young (N.Z.), 45.50 m, 3; Jan Bishop (N.Z.), 40,26 m, 4. 100 m: Denise Boyd (Aust.), 11.62, 1; Belen Edwards (Aust.), 11.71, 2; Debbie Wells (N.S.W.), 11.74, 3; Kim Robertson (N.Z.), 11.92, 4; Noelene Hodgins (N.Z.), 12.75, 7. 400 m: Terri W'angman (Vic.), 52.73, 1; Beth Nail (Aust.),. 52.95, 2; Maxine Corcoran (Aust.), 53.09, 3; Kim Freakley (N.Z.) 55.47, 6; Desiree De Leeuw (N.Z.), 56.14, 7. 1500 m: Penny Gray (Aust.), 4:20.55, 1; Sue Muir (N.S.W.), 4:21.34, 2; Daphne Stevens (Aust.), 4:21.96, 3; Jan Healey (N.Z.), 4:23.37, 5; Alison Deed (N.Z.), 4:24.08, 7. 100 m hurdles: Penny Gillies (Aust.), 13.89, 1; Cheryl Boswell (Aust.), 14.17, 2; Helen Edwards (Qld.), 14.26, 3; Terry Yaxley (N.Z.), 14.83, 5; Gail Swart (N.Z.), 15.29, 7.

4 x 400 m relay: Australia (Terri Wangman, Maxine Corcoran, Beth Nail, Lyn. Young), 3:36.6, 1; New Zealand (Kim Freakley, Desiree De Leeuw, Terry Y'axley, Kim Robertson), 3:47.3, 2. High jump: Cathie Soanes (Vie.), 1.76, 1; Joanne Sweetman (N.S.W.), 1.76, 2; Katrina Gibbs (Aust.), 1.70, and Vanessa Browne (Aust.), 1.70, equal 3; Karen Whimp (N.Z.), 1.70, 5; Penny Richards (N.Z.), 1.60, 7. Shot put: Bev Francis (Aust.), 15.19, 1: Patricia Donnelly (Vic.), 13.62, 2; Vai Young (N.Z.), 13.33, 3; Jan Bishop (N.ZT), 12.42, 4. Javelin: Pam Mathew’s (Aust.), 56.22, 1; Jeanette Kieboom (S.A.), 50.54, 2; Suzanne Howland (Qld.), 48.46, 3; Jan Bishop (N.Z.), 36.92, 5.