Paul sets new hurdles record in finale to track season

Press, 29 March 1982, Page 19

Paul sets new hurdles record in finale to track season

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ROD DEW

A ■ Canterbury 400 m hurdles hand-timed record of 51.7 s by the Commonwealth Games team contender, Wayne Paul (Papanui-Red-wood),: provided a fitting climax’ to the final track and field meeting of the season at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. However, his pleasure at gaining the provincial record was tinged with disappointment. The time w r as 0.5 s outside the qualifying time for the Brisbane Games. “That is it for me,” said Paul afterwards. “I will just wait until the selectors name the team, and hope. I have not qualified. It just depends on how many the selectors are prepared to take to Brisbane.”

The last 10 days have been full of satisfaction for Paul. Restricted, throughout the season by lack of competition in Canterbury, he flew to Auckland after his second placing in the national championship. In two races there, he beat the new national champion. Murray Cumberpatch, both times and ran personal best times of 51.76 s

and, last Wednesday, 51.735. The latter time will be put forward as a Canterbury electronic-timing record. It betters the existing Canterbury electronic record, of 51.955, which was set by the Commonwealth Games hurdler, Rendell Mclntosh, in 1974. Saturday's hand-timed record will stand in a separate category. “What I needed was the competition,” said Paul. “Having six full lanes made a big difference. Competition is the key to fast times.” Paul had the misfortune to draw lane eight in the national final in Christchurch earlier this month and admits that he ran the race badly. “I" was running scared. I ran the first 200 m way too fast and I had nothing left at the finish. But I learned my lesson, and when I went to Auckland I remembered what had happened.” Paul’s coach, Mr Eric Rowe, is convinced that Paul would have qualified easily if he had had the competition he needed.

Mr Rowe said, “If he had had strong competition, he

would have broken 51s by now. He is the most consistent athlete I have ever coached. The , meeting was dead today and yet, look what he did.” A rest of three or four weeks is now planned by Paul before he begins his build-up, hopefully, for the Games. The nominations are epxected to be announced on April 12 by the New Zealand track and field selectors. The full Games team will be named on May 12. Michael Gilchrist (Technical), already with two excellent qualifying times over 1500 m to his credit, restricted his activities to the 800 m on Saturday. He was aiming for the 800 m qualifying time of Imin 48s, but the relaxed atmosphere of the final meeting told against him and he had to be content with a fine win in Imin 50.25. Vaughan Roberts (Toe H) was runner-up in Imin 545. The New Zealand junior 1500 m champion, Colin McDonald (Technical), was hoping for another personal best in his final run of the season but had to settle for 3min 58.95, about 10s slower than his target.

Evan Peterson (Technical), clearly winding down after a long and demanding season, won the long jump with 6.93 m, considerably less than even his recent best. In the 200 m sprint, a distance over which he has excelled this summer, he was well beaten by the 400 m specialist, Paul Cuff (Technical), who ran an impressive 22.15. Peterson was second in 22.35. Bev Peterson (Technical) won her final 100 m dash in a smart 12s. Derek McKee (Toe H) cleared 4.50 m in the pole vault for a comfortable win. This was a good effort, although he was probably hoping for something higher. Lyn Tipper (University) easily won the women’s 5000 m in 18min 23.2 s Sue Bruce (New Brighton), one of the stars of the recent inter-secondary school championships, won the women’s senior 800 m in an impressive 2min 13.8 s Jan Bishop (Technical), fresh from her successes in Australia, won the women’s shot, with 14.18 m. But this was nearly Im short of the 15.13 m throw which earned her the silver medal behind

Bev Francis in the Australian shot championship in Brisbane’s Commonwealth Games stadium. The performance, which lifted her from fourth place to second place in the final round, was 57cm outside the Games qualifying standard. Miss Francis, certain of selection for Australia, won, with 15.33 m.

Miss Bishop improved on her recent performances with the javelin in Australia, throwing 44.84 m for sixth. She gained the same place in the discus, with a throw of about 42m, which was less than her best by a considerable amount.

The senior men's discus on Saturday went to Matt Leech (University) who recorded a best of 42.12 m.

The New Zealand discus champion for a record eighteenth time, Vai Young (Technical), also ended the season on a winning note. She threw an excellent 45.98 m in the women’s discus. Her sequence was remarkably consistent: 42.28 m, 44.68 m, 45.58 m, 45.76 m, 4520 m, and 45.98 m.