Williams’ world record score in pentathlon

Press, 12 January 1981, Page 19

Williams’ world record score in pentathlon

"I was very nervous the night before, more nenous than I have ever been,” said the decathlon gold medallist in the 1966 Commonwealth Games. Roy Williams, of Auckland, after breaking the world record in the M 45 pentathlon on Saturday. “I was going to treat this as a fun thing, but I guess the competitive instinct took hold,” said Williams, a newspaper journalist who keeps fit by training with a dozen young athletes he coaches in Auckland. His score of 4038 points made the existing world record of 2778 points, held by Valbjorn Thorlaksson. of Iceland, look inadequate. Robin Ball, a former New Zealand decathlon champion and an old rival of Williams; was runner-up with 3666 points, also well over the listed record. The third place-getter, L. Marien, of Belgium, and J. Schwanker, of West Germany, who was fourth, also bettered the world record. Marien scored 3500 points and Schwanker, 2974. Williams, looking fit and agile, pushed the years back with an outstanding 6.46 m long jump at the start. Ball, now living in England, came back with a winning throw of 57.02 m in the javelin. Williams was only fourth with his 46.87 m. Williams resnonded with a fine win in' the 200 m in 2435, and moved comfortably ahead with a winning discus throw of 43.18 m. ‘•I was most pleased with that throw. About six weeks ago, for no accountable reason, my performance dropped and I was a little worried. But I got in a warm-up throw of 44m before the competition, and the winning distance was my best of the summer,” said Williams. » He lined up for the 1500 m with a lead of more than 500 points, and needed only to finish to be sure of. the title and the world record. Ball won the 1500 m in smin 2s, but Williams ran the distance as planned in smin 295. It was all he needed for an outstanding win; World records also fell In the M4O and M§s pentathlons. Werner Schallan, of West Germany, won the M4O. title with a score of 3615 points, breaking- his own world record of 3391, set two years ago. U. Keller and G. Plucker, both of West Germany, also bettered , the old record with their scores of 3530 and 3499, respectively. . Conny. Akerblon, of Sweden, won the M 55 pentathlon with an-

other world record score of 3037. easiiv beating the 2251 score of Vadar Barti, of Sweden, which stands as the record. Raymond Spencer, of the United States, was second with 2964 and Andre Fendele, of France, was third with 2946. Their scores also bettered the world record. On Saturday, a total of 14 world records were broken, bringing to 27 the number broken since the Games began. Colleen Mills, of New Zealand, bettered her own record of 59.71 s bj' three-hundredths of a second in winning the W45 400 m gold medal. K. Hveem, of Norway, set a new time of 30.59 s in the W55 200 m, easily beating the world record of Aileen Hogan, of Australia, of 31.45. Mrs Hogan was runner-up in andther good time of 32.045. The W6O world record for 200 m also fell. E. Hank, of West Germany, won in 33.33, beating the record of 35.2 s held by,Josephine Kolda, of the United States. , , W. Reid, of the Netherlands set a new world record of 34.76 s in winning the W65 200 m. The old time of 35.1 s was set by Polly Clarke, of the United .States, in 1978. I''-', Anne McKenzie, running in Belgian colours; set a new world time of 2min 43.41 s in winning the W55 800 m. The listed world record is 3min 9.55, held by Nell du Plessis, of South Africa. In the W7O 200 m, B. James, of the United States, becomes the first world record holder with her time of 45.115. No record-is yet listed. Three world records were set in tlie javelin throw. E.' Jacobson, of Denmark, won the W55 grade with a fine throw of 19.66 m, and in the W75 grade, I. Sarnama. of Finland, became the first holder of the world record at 18.28 m. A. Reille, of Wegt Germany. set a new world record of 25.26 m with her win in the W65 javelin. The listed record is 22.55 m, set by Edith Mendyka, of the United States, four- years ago. In the M6O 110 hurdles, R. Hunt, of the United States, set a new' record of 18.275. The record of 18.5 s was set by George Braceland. of the United States, In 1976.' Another hurdles record fell in the M7O 400 m event. W. Biglow, of the United States, won in. the world time of Imin 24.095. The listed record is Imin 30.85.