Molloy no longer forgotten

Press, 25 February 1983, Page 19

Molloy no longer forgotten

Bv

ROD DEW

Some seven years ago Michael Molloy was among Canterbury's most promising young middle distance runners. Then, when he should have been making real progress, he faded into the background. Three years struggling with injury and then a move in 1980 to Waikato and he became the forgotten young man of Canterbury athletics. However, last year he suddenly resurfaced as the “rabbit" in the international mile and 1500 m races featuring John Walker and Steve Scott. The ability he showed then suggested that bigger things might be in store. Molloy's enthusiasm returned and he started thinking about realising the potential he showed in Canterbury as a colt. Last Sunday he cleared his first major hurdle in the path

to the top with a rousing victory in the Canterbury 800 m championship. There was nothing in it at the finish. Colin McDonald, winner of the national junior 1500 m title last year, was onlv centimetres behind at the finish and actually recorded the same time, Imin 49.755. as Molloy. But the record will have Molloy listed as the winner, and this is what really counts. The time was a personal best for Molloy, who is satisfied that he can run faster. “I am still not in top shape," he said afterwards. Molloy, aged 23, now shares his time between Canterbury and Waikato, where

he attends Waikato University as a mathematics student. He has already returned to Hamilton, but it •will be as a Canterbury representative that he will make his attack on the New Zealand 800 m championship in Hamilton next month.

"I like living in Hamilton." he explained. “There is a better environment for training. Particularly in the winter, this makes a difference." he said. He is fortunate in having two coaches, Allan Middleton in Hamilton and Bruce Milne in Christchurch, who think along the same lines and who are prepared to share his preparation. They both like Molloy's chances of reaching international levels. Molloy’s short term aims include winning selection for the World Student Games in Edmonton this year and for the world track and field

championships in Helsinki in August. The student games are well within his present ability and, although there are "some first-class 800 m men ahead of him in the race for the world championship team, his chances cannot be discounted.

Already this year MOlloy has shown excellent form over longer mile and 1500 m races. His win in the Dunedin street mile a few weeks ago in 3min 55.91 s was a particularly impressive effort considering the course included two hills.

In spite of this. Molloy believes that the 800 m is the best distance for him at this stage of his career and this is the only distance he will contest at the national championships. The only thing which could change his mind is an outstanding performance in the Wanganui invitation mile to-

morrow, a race in which many of the country’s finest middle distance runners, including John Walker and Tony Rogers, will compete. A sub-4min mile to go with his splendid run on the road might well tip the scales in favour of the longer race at the national championships.