Birnie, Walker to fore in day of achievements at athletics meeting

Press, 8 March 1982, Page 19

Birnie, Walker to fore in day of achievements at athletics meeting

By

ROD DEW

A Commonwealth Games qualifying run in the 800 m by John Walker and the successful completion of the tough distance double by Tom Birnie (Canterbury) in the 5000 m were just two of a string of outstanding achievements on the final day of the Countrywide New Zealand track and field championships at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday.

Walker won the 800 m final with a withering final sprint which began 300 m from the finish. The electronic timer caught him at Imin 47.535, a remarkably fast time considering the slow first lap. But the 20-year-old Waikato runner, Chris Rogers, proved a worthy rival. He made some ground on Walker into the final turn but in the finishing straight the former Olympic 1500 m champion was too strong. Rogers finished in lmin 48.115, just outside the Games qualifying time, but still probably fast enough to earn him a 'trip to Brisbane later this year. Later, Walker said he was very aware that Rogers might prove a problem. "When the pace is slow, you are always worried when you know there is somebody in the field who is faster than you are over 400 metres,” he said. “That is why I held something back down the back straight. I thought I might need it later.” The 5000 m was a classical tactical battle with five contestants in the running for .much of the distance. Birnie, after his great win in the 10.000 m the previous day, realised he.had to conserve his strength. As he did in the 10,000 m, Birnie saved his big effort for the finishing straight'. This time it was another Canterbury runner. Peter Renner, who “got the chop." Renner, who won the steeplechase on Saturday in a Games qualifying time.

I sprinted almost the entire • final lap in an effort to blunt ' Birnie’s famous sprint. But it ' was to no avail. Birnie raced past as he came off the turn and Renner had to settle for second. Birnie’s time was 13min 57.405, considerably faster than Rod Dixon’s winning time last season. “Maybe I should have sprinted earlier, but I was unsure about what I had left after the steeplechase," Renner said later. Even so, he was more than happy with his time of 13min 58.795, a personal best for him. Modest and reserved as always. Birnie had little to say after his great double, a feat rarely achieved in a Commonwealth Games year. “I was a bit tensed up after the 10.000 m, but I always felt I had the field covered," he said. Anne Audain (Auckland) won the women's 3000 m title in the New Zealand national and resident record time of Bmin 58.20 s after a keen tussle with Dianne Rodger (Waikato) and Lorraine Moller (Auckland). Mrs Audain. recently embroiled in a controversy over professionalism, with ’ Miss Molier, clipped eight-tenths of a second off the record she already'held. Mrs Rodger, the winner of the 1500 m on the first day, proved her closest challenger .over the final laps but she could make no real impression on Miss Audain once she had established her break. Mrs Rodger recorded Bmin 59.485. and Miss Moller was third in 9min 0.755.

Both Mrs Rodger and Miss Moller suffered through their exploits in the 1500 m the previous day, although their times were also comfortably inside the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard.

Christine Hughes (Auckland) had too much finishing speed for her closest rival. Jenny Overend (West Coast North Island) in the women's 800 m final. She crossed the line in 2min 4.225, just outside the Games qualifying time. Miss Overend was second in 2min 4.61 s and Kay Hawkins (Wellington) was third in 2min 6.415.

Gary Henley-Smith (Auckland) is the new senior men’s sprint champion. He added the 100 m title yesterday to the 200 m championship he had won the previous day in convincing fashion. He raced across the finish in a smart 10.705. heading the defending champion. Shane Downey (Auckland), bv half a stride.

Third place in a close finish went to Evan Peterson (Canterbury) in 10.995.

A few minutes earlier, Peterson's sister, Beverley Peterson (Canterbury), had filled the same place in the women's 100 m final. The title was won by Kim Robertson (Auckland) ’ in 11.69 s from Andrea Wade (Auckland). Later Miss Robertson completed a week-end of splendid endeavour with a victory in. the 400 m final in and effortless 54.155. This was her third championship victory. She also won the 200 m on Saturday. Howard Atkinson (Auek-

land) won the men’s 400 m title in 47.68 s with Paul Cuff (Canterbury) claiming second place in 47.935. the best performance of his blossoming career.

Glenda Hughes (Auckland) climaxed more than a decade of minor placings in the shot with a splendid victory. Her winning heave of 14.7 m gave her two Canterbury rivals, Jan Bishop and Vai Young, little chance. Miss Bishop claimed the silver medal with a solid distance of 14.47 m and Mrs Young, still troubled by a wrist problem, was third with 13.56 m.

Now 31 and with 18 years of competition behind her, Glenda Hughes was elated by her success. She moved to Auckland a year ago and attributed her great progress to the more stimulating environment there.

Miss Bishop later retained her javelin title with a throw of 43.38 m. ahead of three other Canterbury rivals. Lyn Aben was second with 41.98 m. Michelle White third with 41.92 m and Sally Mene. a former champion and still holder of the national record, fourth with 39.60 m.

Kevin Taylor (Auckland) returned to the road walking limelight after a year away with a 'fine win in the 30km event in 2hr 29min 31s. This bettered the Games qualifying time, one of the surprises of the championships. Roger Te Puni (Wellington) won • the men’s high jump after an enthralling

contest. He made a very good attempt at a New Zealand record height of 2.16 m. just tipping the bar off with his heel on his last attempt. Instead, he had to be satisfied with a very good winning height of 2.13 m. He is still a junior and so this equalled the national junior record held by Grant Landery (Canterbury).

Chris Trabing (Otago), winner of the junior title the previous day after extra jumps, was' second with 2.11 m and Terry Lomax (Canterbury) was third on 2.08 m.

Tim Soper (Wellington) won the 110 m hurdles in 14.615. Khalid Mohammmed (Canterbury), third, in 15.145. had the satisfaction of equalling the Canterbury record. Terry Genge (Waikato) won the women's 100 m hurdles in 1405 s in a tight finish with Lyn Kay (Canterbury).

Robin Tait (Auckland) added another discus title to his already very long list. This time his winning distance was 54.66 m, which left him comfortably ahead of the runner-up. Paul Pervan (Auckland), whose best on the day was 49.48 m. One of the most outstanding - performances in the junior championships came in the 1500 m final.

Colin McDonald (Canterbury) won this with a blistering final 200 m sprint which left his rivals gasping. His time was 3min 50.945. which augurs well for the future.