Mary O’Connor has unusual double

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 26

Mary O’Connor has unusual double

An unusual 3000m-800m winning double by one of the leading contenders for the 1983 New Zealand crosscountry team. Mary O'Connor (University) was among the outstanding performances at the Canterbury inter-club track and field meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. Miss O'Connor building up for the New Zealand crosscountry trials in Wellington in F'ebruary dictated terms from the half-way point in the 3000 m and finished well clear of her nearest rivals in 9min 25.35, the fastest time in Canterbury this summer. Second place went to Debbie Tipper (University) in 9min 47.75, another excellent time considering it was her second 3000 m race in as many Saturdays. Joan Merrifield (University) also broke lOmin with her finishing time for third of 9min 56.15. . Later in the meeting. Miss O'Connor surprised onlookers by lining up at the start of the women's 800 m. She allowed Wendy Mollison (New Brighton) to set the early pace before pulling strongly away over the final 300 m for a fine win in a modest time of 2min 19.75. Miss Mollison. another long distance specialist, was second in 2min 245. Miss O'Connor's chief target this season is to win selection for the New Zealand team for the world cross-country championships at Gateshead. England, on March 22. To do this, she needs to finish in at least the first six in the New Zealand trial in Wellington on February 5. “I have got to make sure I am in top form for the trial,” she said, indicating that she would run regularly on the track this summer to help her speed. “There are probably six other people who, in the’selectors' eyes are ahead of me.”, In spite of her powerful run over 3000 m. she was not entirely satisfied. She only managed to maintain the personal schedule she had set for three laps before slowing, losing her chance of bettering her personal best of 9min 21s. However, before 'long

she is determined to better 9min 19s, which would break the Canterbury record, currently held by Sue Bruce (New Brighton). "I know Sue is capable of breaking the record, but I would like to do it first." she said. A former double winner of the New Zealand cross-coun-try championship and holder of the Canterbury titles for 3000 m. 5000 m and road racing. Miss O'Connor intends to defend her titles in the Canterbury championships in February but hopes to be in Gateshead by the time of the national track championships. The Brisbane Commonwealth Games marathon representative. Don Greig (New Brighton), very comfortably won the 5000 m, run in conjunction with the scheduled 10.000 m race. He was headed only briefly by Warren Sheddan (Olympic) before breaking away on his own. finishing in the excellent time of 14min 37.25. Allan Sinclair (New Brighton) was second in 14min 43.1 s and Sheddan. who at one stage seemed assured of second, faded to third in 14min 48.75. Robert Campbell (Christchurch) won the 10.000 m in 33min 59.15. Sue Taylor (St Martins), the only woman competitor, finished strongly in 49min 29.15. Many of Canterbury's top athletes were absent at the triangular representative contest against Otago and Southland at Dunedin but enough stayed behind to provide some’ performances of quality. John Gilbert (New Brighton) won the boys’ under-18 2000 m steeplechase in the exccellent time of 6min 7s. This actually broke the New Zealand colts record for the distance, although it was initially overlooked by officials. The Canterbury record, set

by Peter Renner (New Brighton') in 1977. is a much faster smin 51.2 s but at the time it was set the New Zealand association did not recognise the distance. Michael Molloy (University) unbeaten in "the middle distances this summer, added 'to his growing list of successes with a fine win in the 800 m. His time, of Imm 51.8 s left him comfortably clear of Renner, who was second in Imin 53.45. his personal best. Peter Williams (Toe H) was third in Imin 53.85. Joe Leota (Old Bovs) won the 60m sprint in a fast 6.85. comfortably heading the experienced Jeff Bailey (Old Boys). Bailey and Michael Fahey (Old Boys) both recorded the same time. 7.25. but second place was awarded to Bailey. However. Paul Shannon (Old Boys) competing in the B grade, ran faster, reaching the finish in 7 os. The junior 100 m was won in fine style by Rhys Dacre (Papanui Redwood)’ in Ils, and the women's 60m went to Vicky Lewis (Old Boys) in 7.75. Bailey, no longer racing seriously, won the 200 m in 23.1 s in a very close finish with D. Grenfell (New Brighton). Grenfell was credited with the same time. The Commonwealth Games high jumper. Terry Lomax (Old Boys), demonstrated his versatility with an excellent run of 54.8 s in the demanding 400 m hurdles. Dion Andrews (New Brighton) winner of the New Zealand secondary schools’ 800 m championship a week earlier, showed plenty of pace over the shorter 400 m, winning the junior event in 50.3 s from Dacre. Vai Young (Technical) easily won the discus with a 41.76 m throw from Angela Pule (New Brighton) winner of the national schools’ high jump title a week earlier.