Unfortunate injury hits Games team

Press, 18 September 1982, Page 64

Unfortunate injury hits Games team

NZPA Melbourne An unfortunate injury to the New Zealand distance runner. Jenny, Overall, has hit the New Zealand Commonwealth Games track and field team. Most of the New Zealand athletics team' is in Melbourne for an international meeting at Olympic Park tomorrow. The 19-year-old New Zealander has an infected left knee after a collision with a cyclist while training last Tuesday. The New Zealand team's coach. Dave Norris, said yesterday: "She has been confined to bed and is a little bit incapacitated at the moment.” The young middle distance .runner's preparation for next month's Brisbane Games has been severely curtailed because of the injury: "It's unfortunate for Jenny as she will miss- about six days training in total." said Mr Norris. However, the infection was expected to clear up over the week-end. Mr Norris said that the worst part of the whole affair was that the male cyclist "failed to stop and just left her lying there." Mr Norris expects some

good performances from the team tomorrow despite their lack of competition during the last six months. "From their training form they should perform up to the standard that won them selection." he said. A highlight of the meeting could be the clash of the New Zealand athlete. Peter Renner, aged 22. and Neil Lowsley, aged 23. with the South Australian. Gary Zeuner. aged 26. in the 3000 metres steeplechase.

Zeuner, the Australian champion, missed selection in the Australian team and has paid his own expenses from Adelaide in an effort to prove selectors wrong. However, the Australian and the New’ Zealanders are upset that a former Australian steeplechase Champion. Dr Peter Larkins, who was selected in the Games team, has decided to contest only the 1500 metres tomorrow. "We came here for competition and it is a bit disappointing that Larkins is not running." Mr Norris said. The New Zealand coach was also upset that the Australian long jump champion and World Cup silver medallist. Gary Honey, would not contest the meeting. "Our long jumper. Steve

Walsh, came here especially to jump against Honey and he might just as well have stayed home." Mr Norris said. Australia will otherwise field its full Commonwealth Games track and field team at th’e meeting. They include the top gold medal hopes. Rick Mitchell, Raelene Boyle, Gael Mulhall, Denise Boyd and Ken Lorraway. the men's middle distance events will be highlighted by Peter Bourke and Mike Hillardt in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. Bourke. the Australian champion, meets Waikato's Chris Rogers, while Hillardt clashes with Canterbury's Mike Gilchrist, who impressively defeated Bourke in the 1500 metres at Adelaide last week-end. New Zealand's world class contingent of women's distance runners should outperform the Australians. The world 5000 metres record holder. Ann Audain, aged 27, will contest the 1500 metres and should be too good for the much improved . Australian, Julie Rennie. Mr Norris said that Diane Rodger and Lorraine Moller would arrive in Melbourne today.