World veteran records

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 26

World veteran records

Two world 10 x 1 mile relay records were broken by members of the Canterbury Veteran Athletes’ Club at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday evening. In the M4O or open veteran grade, the 10 Canterbury runners lopped 16.1 s off the previous world record with

their time of 48min 21.95. The old record of 48min 38s was held by the Veteran Club of England. The fastest time was achieved by the anchorman, the former Canterbury steeplechase champion, Jim Macdonald, at 4mim 49.065. Macdonald began his run

secure in the knowledge that the record was comfortably within the team's grasp, and yet still managed to run his mile some three seconds faster than he had originally expected. Macdonald and his brother, John, not surprisingly played a key role in the setting’ of the world record. John Macdonald. a world distance champion for the M 45 grade on the track, ran the first leg in a 'smart 4min 45.045. in spite of the handicap of a recent neck injury. The surprise performer of the relay was Malcolm Fraser, who ran his leg in 4min 42.95. Another fast time of 4min 41s was set by Vic Sykes. ’ The M5O team easily broke the world record for its grade, finishing in 52min 29.75. The previous record, also held by the Veteran Club of England, stood at 53min 525. The fastest times were achieved by Dave Tucker (smin) and Ron Stevens (smin 01s). an outstanding track runner in his younger

days. Clarrie Reecc. among New Zealand's finest marathon runners 15 years ago. ran the anchor leg in a very worthy smin 04s. World record times for other grades were not known, but veteran athletics officials think it likely that the performances recorded in the M 45. M 55, W35 and W45 grades will ' stand as world's bests. Results (with unofficial splits for the M4O and M5O grades) were: - M4o—John Macdonald 4:4504. Peter Watts 4:53.9. Eric Hunter 4:57. Alec Cook 5:4.1. Vic Sykes 4:41. Malcom Eraser 4:42.9. Brian Atkins 4:48.39. Dennis O'Keefe 4:54.04. John Brownlie 5:02.7. Jim Macdonald 4.39.06. Total 48:21.9. M45—51:44.3. Mso—lan Brownlie 5:11. Cass Kernahan 4:58. Don Cameron 5.12, Angus Dellow 5:26. Ron Stevens 5:01, Bob Creed 5.14. Dave Tucker 5.00. Clyde Dalton 5.09. Brian Keown 5:17. Clarrie Reece 5:04. Total: 52:29.7. Mss— 60:04.8. M6O- 64 05. W.35—68:05.3. W45. -69:59 4.