Long-jumper ready for title bid

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 18

Long-jumper ready for title bid

An impressive leap of 7.17 m by Evan Peterson (Technical) in the inter-club track and field meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday confirmed that his bid for the national long-jump cham-pionship-at Hastings next weekend will biS' a strong one. Peterson, dinner of the junior long-jump championship last season, achieved his winning distance oh his sixth attempt. But one other jump was of more than seven metres — his fourth, of 7.03 m. This was comfortably below his best this summer of 7.31 m, but a satisfactory preliminary to the national championship meeting. Peterson at present holds second ranking with this distance. The only man who had jumped further without wind assistance is the reigning national champion, Stephen Walsh, of Otago, another outstanding young athlete. Both Peterson, and- Walsh will expect to leap in the vicinity of 7.60 m in their national title clash next week-end. The runner-up on Saturday .was Mike Ritchie (Toe H) with 6.54m,be10w his best but a good effort considering his recent shoulder problems. Earlier in the day, Peterson demonstrated his sprinting ability with a win in the senior 100 m in a modest 11.1 s. lan Mather (Old Boys) was his closest challenger, a tenth of a second slower. Mather was also second in the 200 m, but this time to the young 400 m specialist, Tony Gill (Toe H). Gill, holder of the national junior 400 m title, won well in 27.75. Ritchie,’, who will defend his national pole vault title at Hastings , on Friday, won the pole vault, but his injury prevented a. good height. He

achieved 4.30 m, which might not be good enough to enable him to continue his great run of national championships. Kieran McKee (Toe ID, the firm favourite for the New Zealand title this summer, was away competing in the invitation meeting on the new all-weathor track at Invercargill. Several other top performers were also at Invercargill. but plenty remained to make their*final preparations for the national championships. Vai Young (Technical), who surprisingly lost her Canterbury discus title to Jan Bishop (Technical) this year, showed, that she would he fighting hard to hang on to her national crown. Her winning distance on Saturday of 45.10 m was one of her recent best, and far in excess of her Canterbury championship performance. In the shot, her performance was not quite so impressive. She was content with 13.57 m. Miss Bishop, holder of the national javelin title, was absent, but there were still some splendid throwing. Barbara Ovftnden (Technical) won with 41.30 m and Lynn Aben, also of Technical, was second with another throw tn excess of 40m. The Mount Cook Line “Athlete of the Week” award went to Carol Bonnett (Avon), aged 16, who won the senior 3000 m in the excellent tithe for her.age of 10m 39.85. Two “Athlete of the Week” awards from the Canterbury championships were also announced. Paul Cuff (Technical) took one of -them with Ms outstanding junior 400 m in 48.585, The other was awarded to Rebecca Allison, of Southland, who won the under-48. 1500 m and 800 m titles. Canterbury’s top woman

sprinter, Bev Peterson (Technical), recorded 11.9 s in the 100 m, wMch puts her right up with Wendy Brown (Northland) and Kim Robertson (Auckland) in the title chase. Miss Peterson also won the 200 m in a smart 24.95. Anne Marie Keown (University) easily won the senior 800 m in the good - time of 2mln 13.95, but some of her thunder was stolen by the talented 16-year-old, Sue Bruce (New Brighton), who won the under 18 event in 2min 11.35. The much-publicised “Dubai” 800 for distance specialists was won by Mark Cassidy (New Brighton) in Imin 595. The Canterbury marathon champion, Gavin Donaldson (Christchurch), was second in 2min and a former Canterbury marathon, champion, Brent Rollo (New, Brighton), was a close third in 2min o,ls. The main senior 800 went, as expected, to Michael Gilchrist (Technical) in Imin 51.85. Neil Lowsley (New Brighton), who has his sights set on the national steeplechase title next week-end, narrowly won the 1500 m in a good finish from Warren Sheddan (Olympic). Lowsley recorded 3mii> 50s; Sheddan was three-tenths of a second slower. ' Jeff Elliot (Olympic) was first home in the senior 5000 m after a keen tussle with Dave Rowell (University). Elliot’s time was 14min 50.35. The . Commonwealth Games representative, Graham Seatter (Old Boys), completed an excellent 3000 m walk in 12min 44.75, a' satisfactory final workout before he defends his 5000 m crown at Hastings.