Cross-country title to Euan Robertson

Press, 11 August 1980, Page 4

Cross-country title to Euan Robertson

PA Wellington Nothing was going to stop Waikato’s Euan Robertson from winning his first senior national cross-country championship title on the slushy, three-lap 12,000 m Trentham Memorial Park course on Saturday. The plucky 3000 m steeplechaser overcame a heavy fall after misjudging the fourth fence on the first lap, which cost him the lead for 1500 m to the eventual runner-up, Paul Renner, of Canterbury. Robertson, aged 32, lost his shoe, so that he struggled for balance and traction over much of the last lap but he only conceded to Renner half of a 40m lead. The former Wellingtonian’s time was a magnificent 39min 9s, but all the first seven home recorded under 40min in the worst conditions at Trentham for 20 years! Renner, aged 20, surely cemented his place in a national team to the world cross-country championships in Spain in March, while third home, - Paul Ballinger (WjCJSLI.). also: gave a fine performance. Mary O’Connor was head and shoulders above her opposition over the new 5000 m course and the Cantabrian retained her- title with 17min 33s and a lead of 13s over former Olympian, Diane Rodger (Waikato). Bad luck dogged the West Coast North Island pair of Terry Stone and Dean Crowe, allowing an unrated Otago runner, Michael Marychurch, to grab the junior men’s 6000 m title.

,Marychurch, aged . 19, squeezed out Auckland’s Clive Cullien in a thrilling sprint-to win. in an exceed-

ingly fast 19min 8s with only 13s separating the first six The early leader Stone, was badly spiked and pulled out when looking a threat, and the middle-distance star, Crowe, fell at the last fence and still managed to take the bronze medal. Canterbury’s Jim McDonald won the 9 2°u m veteran men’s event, with his twin brother, John, third, and filling second place was the Wellington road, track and cross country champion, Barry Everitt. Wellington won both ■veterans team titles.

Results:: — _ 12,000 metres.—Senior: E. Robertson (Waikato) 39mm 9sec, 1, P. Renner (Canterbury) 39:13, 2, P. Ballinger (W.C.N.1.) 39:33, 3, P. Sirl (Auckland) 39:58, 4, R. Lonergan (Canada) 39:59, 5, T. Birnie (Canterbury) 39:59, 6, D. Froude (Wellington) 39:59, 7. Teams: Canterbury 45 points, 1, Auckland 82, 2, Wellington 139, 3.

5000 metres. —Women: M;?’ O’Connor (Cant.) 17:33, 1, D. I Rodger (Waik.) 17:46, 2, A. ' Roe (Auck.) 18:01, 3. A. i Keown (Cant.) 18:07, 4, G. . Rae (Auck.) 18:27, 5, G. • Kroon (W.C.N.1.) 18:28, 6.3 Teams: Canterbury 22, 1; ; Auckland 26, 2, Waikato 48, / 3. ! y

Junior men.—6ooo metres! : M. Marychurch (Otago) 19:08, •. 1, C. Cullen (Auck) 19.09, 2, • D. Crowe (W.C.N.1.) 19:14,3,.’ G. Jenner (Waik.) 19:16, 4, P. Barnes (Wgtn) 19:19, 5, R. Park (Wgtn) 19:21, 6. Teams: Wellington 38, 1, Auckland 46, 2, Canterbury 59, 3. ;/; -: Veterans. —9000 metres: Jim McDonald (Cant.) 31:15, 1, B. Everitt (Wgtn) 31:29, 2, John McDonald (Cant) 31:40, . 3. Teams: Wellington 29, 1, Canterbury 32, 2, W.C.N.I. 95, 3.

Women’s veterans.—4ooo metres: T. Lund (Wgtn) 17:05, I, A. Jones (Waik.) 17:27, 2, J. Savage (Hawera) 17:42; 3. Teams: Wellington 32, 1, Canterbury 35, 2, W.C.N.L 53, 3.