Brilliant 800m victory by Gilchrist

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 29

Brilliant 800m victory by Gilchrist

By

ROD DEW

The frustrations of a recent calf muscle injury were shunted firmly into the background by Michael Gilchrist (Technical) when he won the Canterbury 800 m championship with a brilliant run in the final at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday. Gilchrist, forced to withdraw from the 1500 m championship a week earlier because of the injury, looked fit and strong yesterday as he humbled a high-class field. He reached the finish in Imin 48.565, a personal best by 1.64 s and less than a second

outside the Canterbury record. “That was better than I expected,” he said afterwards. No-one else was even close. Peter Williams (Toe H). running in spikes for the first time, surprised more favoured rivals with the strength of his finish, claiming the runner-up place in Imin 52.065. Another runner making much progress, Clay Penrose (New Brighton), was third in lmin 52.275.Behind, them came two hardened campaigners. Bruce Hunter (Shirley) and

Andrew Stark (University), who were in the thick of the battle for the minor placings until very near the end. Stark, now racing again after a long period recovering from injury, actually did much of the work. He led the field through the bell in 54s and was still in front 300 m to go when Gilchrist started his finishing burst. Gilchrist ran strongly down the back straight, edging away from the rest of the field and around the bend began his sprint. He pulled away from the rest at a rate which drew gasps of astonishment from the crowd.

“When he started sprinting around the final bend, the rest were all out the back door," enthused the Canterbury selector and prominent coach. Mr Bruce Milne, afterwards. “It was all over. I have only seen two other New Zealand athletes run like that — Peter Snell and John Walker.” Gilchrist's time is the second fastest by a New Zealander this season, which is quite remarkable considering he was unable to train last week because of the calf muscle injury. “I was worried about the injury.”

Gilchrists coach. Mr Valder-. mars Briedis. confessed. "Now I can see he can handle the 1500 m in the New Zealand championships.” Gilchrist, who qualified for the Commonwealth Games in the recent international 1500 m in Christchurch, is one of the favourites for the title. A young lady of exceptional' . promise. Rebecca Alison (Toe H). avenged her narrow defeat over 1500 m a week earlier with a splendid win in the women's 800 m. She made her bid for glory’ off the final bend and down the straight proved too strong for her rivals. Her time of 2min 11.19 s was a personal best. Anne Marie Keown (University). winner of the 1500 m crown, was runner-up on 2min 13.04 s and Christine Sutton (Old Boys) was third in 2min 17.745.

Tom Birnie (New Brighton) made a gallant effort to achieve the Commonwealth Games qualifying time in the 5000 m but having to run the entire race out on his own proved too much of a hurdle. He won the title — his third of the championships — in an excellent 13min 50.015.

the experienced John

Sheddan (Olympic) won an enthralling tussle for second, out-sprinting Don Greig (New Brighton) and Brian Kennelly (University) for a very respectable 14min 21.06. Gre'ig took the third placing in 14min 22.69 s and Kennelly, who set the pace at the head of the main bunch for the last four laps, was fourth. Mary O'Connor (University) won the women's 5000 m in ’l6min 22.4 s in a particularly well-judged run. Margaret Walker (St Martins) was second in 17min "0.655.

Evan Peterson (Technical) missed a Games qualifying leap in the long jump but could hardly feel disappointed with his efforts throughout the two final days of the championships. On Saturday he added the 200 m title to'the 100 m crown he won a week earlier and yesterday he made no contest of the long jump.

He started with great promise in the long jump with 7.20 m and a qualifying leap of 7.65 m seemed a strong possibility. But after reaching 7.22 m on his third attempt he was unable to

improve further. Nevertheless. every leap was in excess of 7.16 m. a very worthy performance indeed. Peterson won the 200 m in a smart 22.05 s from Paul Cuff (Technical) and Andy von Biel (Old Boys). Joe Leota (Old Boys) faded to a disappointing fourth. There was enthusiastic approval for the fine win of Tom von Biel (Old Boys) in the junior 400 m in 48.935, his third title win of the championships. On Saturday he won the 100 m final in 11.Ils and a week earlier the 200 m title in a very impressive 21.95.

Bev Peterson (Techical) completed her sprint double with a good win in the women’s 200 m final in 24.88 s from Jill • Bonniface (Old Boys). Another multiple titlewinner, Lynnette Kay (Technical). increased her stature w’ith a 61.19 s win over .the 400 m hurdles. She also w’on the 100 m hurdles.

Jan Bishop (Technical) triumphed in the women's shot, beating her famous rival. Vai Young (Technical). And even if performances were below even recent

levels, the intensity of the contest was enthralling. Miss Bishop finally won with 13.87 m. Mrs Young was close behind with 13.75 m. leaving ’plenty of evidence that she will not give up her national crown easily. A junior. Bill Boyd (Papa-nui-Redwood). gained an upset win on Saturday in the senior high jump, 'clearing 2.05 m. The. favourite. Terry Lomax (Old Boys), still weak after an illness during the previous week, had to be content with sharing second place with Grant Landery (Cashmere). Both men cleared 2.00 m.

Landery. the national junior record-holder, had a second chance to challenge Boyd in the junior event and this time he w’on on a countback with a leap of 2.00 m.

Kieran McKee (Toe H) was hoping for a second Games qualifying height in the pole vault but had to settle for a vault of 4.75 m and another Canterbury championship. He had several very good attempts at 4.90 m but caught the bar on each occasion. His younger brothers. Derek and Stephen, filled the minor olacines. Derek vaulted

4.40 m and Stephen cleared 4.00 m.

Another athlete seeking a Games qualifying performance was the 400 m hurdler. Wayne Paul (Papanui-Red-wood). He won the 400 m hurdles title in a very fast 52.07 s but the 51.14 s target he was aiming for escaped him.

Mene Mene (Technical) won the men's shot with an excellent distance of 15m from Keith Barrow (Greymouth).

There were a number of outstanding under-age performances. Colin McDonald (Technical)- threatened Gilchrist's junior 1500 m record with a superb winning run of 3min 48.485. Five records were broken.four of them in the under-age ■grades. Debbie Chase (Papa-nui-Redwood) bettered the girls' under-16 discus record with her best throw of 38.94 m. Steven Muir (NewBrighton) posted a new record distance of 6.39 m in the boys' under-18 long jump, and Dion Andrews (NewBrighton) set a new time of lmin 54.87 s in the boys' under-18 800 m. This beat by three-hundredths of a second the record set some years ago by Richard Goldstone. Steven Balderstone (North Canterbury) won the boys' under-16 isoom in a record 4min 6.845. The fifth record of the two-day meeting came in one of the final events. The Technical 4 x 400 m women's relay team (Robyn Adams. Gail' Adams. Bev Peterson and Lynette Kay) set a new record of 3min 51.605.