Japanese track star hits road form

Press, 24 March 1980, Page 6

Japanese track star hits road form

A 19-year-old Japanese track star. Yutaka Kanai, took fastest time in the annual Tcddington to Diamond Harbour 11.5 km road raee on Saturday, with a time of 36min. 275. Kanai’s time was outside Don! Greig’s record but was a minute better than his time last year, although conditions on Saturday were more favourable for faster times.

i Second fastest was Brenton I Joyce (St Martins), who ence again showed what tremendous ; ability he has at recovering from strenuous races. Only last week he tried to lead all the way in the national marathon before fading badly and struggling home looking very jaded. Joyce’s time was 37min 21s. which was good enough to belter that of such performers as Frank Brookes (Toe H) and Dart Rowell (University). • Perhaps the star performance of the day was that of Wendy Mollison (University), who came strongly through the field of more than 150 runners for an outstanding time of 43min 21s to take fastest time and a record for the women by more than seven minutes. An indication of her ability is that next placed Margaret Walker (St Martins), herself a record-breaker in recent weeks, was almost two minutes slower. Miss Walker wa* second woman to finish in the national women’s marathon last week, and showed remarkable recovery so soon after the gruelling event.First across the line was a Rovers runner. George Ashwell, fol-

lowed by North Canterbury! Bruee Donnelly and Don BorreJ (St Martins), who also completed the marathon a week ago in 3hrs 13min 21s. Results.—

Handicap: G. Ashwell ißov« ers) 54mln 14s, 1; B. (North Canterbury) 55:49. 2; D, Borreil (St Martins) 55:56, 3; K< Page (St Martins) 56:49, 4: R, Merrick (New Brighton) 53:57, 5j R. Foster (St Martins) 57:02. 6j L. Buick (St Martins) 48.59. 7 and first woman to finish).

Fastest times. —Men: Y. Kanai (Japan) 36:27, 1; B. Joyce (St Martins) 37:21, 2; Y. Sakasuchi (Japan) 37:56, 3; F. Brookes (Too H) 37.57. 4; M. Austin (St Maw tins) 38:00, 5; D. Rowell (Univers-) ity) 38:34, 6; F. Nolan (Univers* ity) 38:35, 7; G. Whiting lAshburf ton) 33:36, 8; I. Milne (Univers* ity) 39:17. 9; P. Crosby (Otago) 39:27, 10; R. Hood (Ashburton) 39:35, 11; B. Daly (Rovers) 39:39, 12; N, Tolra (St Martins) 39:41,

Women: W. Mollison (University) 43:21. 1; M. Walker (St Man. tins) 45:14, 2; L. Buick (St MaN tins) 48:59, 3; A, Rigg (St Martins > 50:01, 4; S. Miles (Olympic) 50:13, 5; P. Rhodes (Olympic) 50:42, 6; M. Flanagan (Olympic) 52:19. 7; S. Sadler (Papanui-Red-wood) 52:54, 8; D. Stead (Technical) 53:47, 9; B. Tweedie (Christchurch) 54:45, 10. Veteran men: E. Hunter (Unia varsity) 40:16, 1: I. Sunh (Japan) 43:15. 2; M. Poulton (Christ-; church) 43:17, 3: R. .McLean (Christchurch) 43:33. 4; P. McGregor (Rovers) 44:57, 5. Veteran women: P. Rhodes 1, D. Stead 2, B. Tweedie 3.