McKee ready to terminate Ritchie’s pole vault reign?

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 28

McKee ready to terminate Ritchie’s pole vault reign?

By

ROD DEW

There is not much doubt that the pole vault title will remain in Canterbury hands when the New Zealand track and field championships begin at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on Friday. But the likely wearer of the crown at the end of this often long and demanding event remains a point of some conjecture.

For the last four years a Christchurch television cameraman; Mike Ritchie, has won the title, a record of success which would normally ensure him of heavy favouritism for a fifth win. However, the progress made by his perennial rival and brother-in-law, Kieran McKee, this summer has cast him in the role of the challenger. McKee has quite definitely been the top dog in the pole vault this year. He removed Ritchie’s name from the record book with a splendid vault of 4.72 m during the recent international series, and he sits fairly and squarely on top of the national rankings. He has consistently beaten Ritchie, whose best this season is 4.65 m.

Nevertheless, McKee will not have forgotten his frustrating string of defeats by Ritchie in the New Zealand championship, many of them on a countback after both had cleared the same height. He will be the last person to take the 1980 contest lightly. If conditions are good, the -winner might well need to go higher than the existing New Zealand record.

McKee has also made an impact in the high jump this season. His best of 2.04 m leaves him in second place on the ranking list behind Quin Pawson (2.05 m of Canterbury, and equal with Terry Lomax, of Canterbury, and Mark Hudson, of Auckland. The chance is there for another medal. Lomax has not been at his best this summer, but he is an athlete who can turn on an outstanding effort with little background preparation. He has won the title for the last two years, and it will be something of a surprise if he is toppled off his perch this year.

A number of highly promising young athletes appear ready to move out of the shadows at Auckland. Among them is the 15-year-old Canterbury all-rounder, Angela Pule, who has already made her mark in inter-school and under-age grades. In the senior women’s high jump, she shares third ranking on 1.70 m with the reigning national champion, Clare Kaverman ' (Southland). Ahead of her are Kim Maitland (Wellington) on 1.73 m and Lynette Soole (Auckland) on 1.71 m. A close contest is in store. There will be interest, too, in the performance of John Stapylton-Smith, the new Canterbury javelin champion. He is still a junior, but is quite obviously a medal prospect in the senior championship. His best throw of 69.10 m puts him in third place in the rankings behind Mike O’Rourke and David Hookway, both of Auckland. The women’s javelin promises to be among the most keenly contested events in the championships. Nola Perkins (Westport) returned unheralded

from Australia and snatched the Canterbury title from more favoured competitors. Her winning distance of 44.44 m was the best achieved this season, and she must now start as a slight favourite fo'r the national crown.

Janice Bishop (Canterbury), the winner of the title for the last two seasons, has second ranking with 43.30 m, just ahead of her Technical club-mate, Barbara Ovenden (43.08 m Lyn Aben (Canterbury), whose best is 41.38 m, is another title contender. The only certain aspect of this championship is that the title will be won by an athlete in Canterbury colours.

Vai Young must win the women’s discus again, if her great throw of 46.98 m on Saturday is any indication of her form. She should win the shot as well, although Glenda Hug h e s (Wellington) should provide some worthy competition; Mrs Young has already won a record 32 New Zealand titles and she is going to win a lot more before she is finished.

Mark Miron (110 m hurdles), Martin Couldwell (3000 m steeplechase) and Graham Scatter (5000 m walk) are other Canterbury athletes defending senior titles. Miron, a splendid winner last year, is ranked only fifth this time. But he was an underdog last year, so this could work in his favour. COuldwell and Seatter will both be chasing the Moscow Olympic qualifying times. Couldwel 1

who is also planning to contest the Australian championship, is aiming for Bmin 265, a time which is within his ability. His strongest challenge for the title should cctme from another Canterbury steeplechaser, Peter Renner, holder of the junior title. Scatter has twin targets. After his surprise disqualification in the recent 5000 m at Queen Elizabeth II Park, he will be anxious to win over this distance and regain his national allcomers’ record from the English walker, Roger Mills. But his main object will be to better the Olympic qualifying time of Ihr 27min in the 20km road walk. With a successful indoor tour in the United States behind him, John Walker (Auckland) is expected to win the 1500 m title without extending himself. Rod Dixon (Auckland) is almost as strongly favoured in the 5000 m.

The longest of the track distances, the 10,000 m,

could, however, provide some exciting racing. Alan Thurlow (Canterbury) has been toppled from top ranking in recent weeks by Dick Quax (Auckland). If Quax starts, he should win. And if the early pace is on then both men could dip under the Moscow qualifying time of 28min. Among the few athletes competing without the pressure created by chasing qualifying times will be Kim Robertson (Auckland). She is one of a very select band which has already assured itself of a trip to Moscow.. Her brilliant 400 m funs in the international series leave no doubt of this. Miss Robertson won the 100, 200 and 400 m titles in Christchurch last season, and she will probably complete the treble again on her home track at Auckland. If Walker concentrates on the 1500 m, the men's 800 m could be a repeat of the Canterbury championship with Andrew Stark and Richard Goldstone battling it out for the major honours. It is a prospect which track enthusiasts will look forward to with pleasure.