Stark hoping for fast time

Press, 25 November 1980, Page 38

Stark hoping for fast time

By

ROD DEW

The Canterbury 1500 m champion, Andrew Stark (University), will be looking for a fast time in the feature mile event in tire open interclub track and field meeting on the Ham . grass track tomorrow evening. Stark plans to use the race to sharpen up for the Pacific Conference Games trials in Auckland on December 13 and 14. However, he is not prepared to predict the first sub-4min mile in Canterbury. “I think that is a bit too fast for me at this stage of my preparation," he said.

Stark was hoping to have the outstanding first-year senior. Michael Gilchrist (Technical), in the field, but Gilchrist has decided that he does not need the race. It appears that Stark’s chief opposition will come from the steeplechase specialist, Peter Renner (New Brighton), who is also preparing for the Games trials. Bruce Hunter (University), a former New Zealand 800 m champion, is another capable of running a fast time.

Conditions have not been suitable for fast times at any of the inter-club meetings held so far at Queen Elizabeth II Park and the organisers are hopeful - that calm conditions will prevail

so that athletes aiming for a peak for important meetings next month will be able to judge their fitness. The meeting is aimed at helping secondary school athletes prepare for the Mount Cook inter-secondary school championships at Hastings on December 6 and 7, veteran athletes prepare for the New Zealand veteran championships at Hamilton on the same week-end, and those selected for the Pacific trials.

The sprints, plagued by head winds at Queen Elizabeth Park, will be particularly interesting. Joe Leota (Old Boys), struggling for speed after a long period recovering from injury, will

be hoping to turn the tables on the two men who have taken over from him as the province’s fastest men, Evan Peterson and Paul Cuff (both Technical).

There should be keen corn* petition in the 400 m, too, between the New Zealand junior champion Tony Gill (Toe H), and the Canterbury senior champion, Richard Goldstone (Old Boys).

The feature distance event for women will be the 3000 m, which will bring two of the country’s leading distance runners, Anne-Marie Keown and Mary O’Connor (both University), in conflict Both are preparing for the New Zealand crosscountry trials in January.