Athletics Former Coaster hits top javelin form

Press, 20 October 1980, Page 22

Athletics Former Coaster hits top javelin form

Lyn Aben (Technical), a former West Coaster who crossed the Alps two years ago in search of expert coaching and tough competition in Christchurch.i shot to the head of the New Zealand rankings in the women’s javelin in the interclub track and field meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. Miss Aben. aged 20, threw a career-best 4.1,50 m for a comfortable win over the highly-rated Barbara Ovenden (Technical). The throw was by far the best recorded in New Zealand this season, and puts Miss Aben to the fore in the contest for the two places in the New Zealand team for the Pacific Conference Games in Janu- ; ary.

"I couldn't believe it,” a delighted Miss Aben said afterwards. However, there could be no mistake. All her throws were of mare than 40m, and three were of more than 43m. Her previous best was the 42.36 m which earned her third place in the national championship last season. Miss Aben said she was; pleased that she -had decided I to move to Christchurch two] years ago from her home in Grey mouth. She has been working under the. influence of the former Olympic coach, Mr Valdemars Briedis. This season she has her sights on throwing the javelin up to 47m, but is not keen on making predictions for herself. “We will just have to wait and see,” she said, Mrs Ovenden, who has

been throwing consistently; more than 40in, had to be’ content with a best of only; 35.76 m and second place on; Saturday. The former New; Zealand champion, Jan Bis-| hop (Technical), had to rush; away to the wedding of aj club-mate, Vicky Phillips.; and missed the javelin. But; she had time for a win ini the shot with 13.68 m in the; absence of Vai Young (Tech-j nical).

Shirley Bishop (Technical); claimed top honours in the; discus with 39.36 m, heading: off a former national cham-i pion. Sally Anne Mene s (Technical), who no longer; competes with the same de-( dication she once did. _ ; A stern assault on the New. Zealand pole vault record by Kie-; ran McKee (Toe tti failed Just short of success. McKee won the; senior event with a fine vault of; 4 65m. The bar was moved up to; 4.76 m, but the height proved too; great. . . ; Looking on with some treptda-i tion was the national champion and holder of the national record at 4.75 m, <Mike Ritch'C iTpc 111. lie failed after clearing 4.35 m, good euough for second place ‘■l can’t see my record staying,” Ritchie said later. “Kieran is going very well.” -Traditionally a slow starter, Ritchie intends to concentrate on the pole vault this summer at the expense of the decathlon, an; event in which he won the nat-l ional crown two seasons ago. T will contest the New Zealand decathlon, but I will not train for it.” The coach of both Ritchie and McKee. Mr Eric Rowe, tmlieves that both athletes have trie ability to clear 5m this summer. “It is all there. It is just a case of getting it together," he said. Ritchie also claimed second place in the long jump with his I best leap of 6.65 m. First place (went to the New Zealand junior I champion, Evan Peterson (Tech|nical), with a leap of 6.98 m. conIsiderably less than his recent I best. Peterson, who has been (looking very sharp, won the 60m

dash in 6.7* from Tony Gill Hoc \ H However, he was well beaten ‘ in the senior 2(Wra bv the pew-erfutiv-built junior, Paul Cutf, (Technical!. Cuff pulled away over the final 66m in apparently, effortless fashion, which suggests he has a bright future . ahead. "It was a good effort “ said his coach. Mr Briedt*. “He has made terrific progress " Peterson's time for second waa 33.8*. Terry Lomax (Old Boys), the New Zealand high jump champion for the last three vears. was third in his first 2wm race for three years in 32.9*. . Michael Gilchrist (Technical), the New Zealand junior l3(Nm champion last summer.' came from behind for « good win over (he former New Zealand 880 m champion. Bruce Hunter (Uniter- . sitvi, tn the senior spam. Hunter led through the first lap tn 36* with Gilchrist some 3s back.

Gilchrist, showing impressive strength and speed, closed th* gap and finally edged ahead for a win in Imin 54.75. Hunter wa* a tenth of a second slower. The man who might have made - this race into a three-way affair', Andrew Stark (University); chose ■ instead to contest the 5000 m, an event he won in 14m!n 35.4 s after leading all the way. Stark, who i» - taking care not to. peak too earlv. Is planning to contest both the 860 and 1500 m in the Pacific Conference Games trials. In , Auckland on December J 3 and , 14.

The women’s 3009 m wa* won in very' convincing fashion by the New Zealand cross-country representative, Anne-Marie Keown , (University), in an impressive time of 9min 42.85. The other placings were taken by th* , voung Identical twins, Debbie „ and Lyn Tipper (Avon). Debbie was second in lOmin 16.45, and Lyn third a further S2s behind. Nicky Doak (Technical) provided an upset in the wpmen’s sen- , lor 60m sprint with a narrow vic- ‘ tory over Bev Peterson (Technical). Her time of 7.6 s was * good one. Miss Peterson, who is again being troubled by an achille* tendon Injury , was second in 7.75. The former New Zealand decathlon champion. Men* Men* (Technical), proved too good for his rivals In both the shot and the discus. In the discus he threw 41.70 m. His winning distance in the shot was 13.96 m.