Another setback for top Canty sprinter

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 23

Another setback for top Canty sprinter

By

ROD DEW

An Achilles tendon injury has once again sidelined the champion Canterbury sprinter, Bev Peterson, of Technical.

The Achilles tendon in her left leg failed her two weeks ago and she expects that it will be another three before she can compete seriously. However, Miss Peterson, a bright and engaging personality, has no intention of letting this reversal stop her. She is well used to physical adversity.

For the last six seasons she has had her preparation upset by Achilles injuries in both legs. Without this, she might well have claimed the national individual senior sprint title she has

missed so narrowly so often. And she would undoubtedly have represented New Zealand more often than she already has.

She was a borderline case for selection for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games last year, just missing out on the team as a sprint relay runner. She has had her running shoes specially built up and is hoping to continue training without further upsetting the current injury. “The trouble is that I favour the injured leg and then the other one is likely to go.” Her coach, Mr Valdemars Briedis, is not unduly worried at this stage. “She was running very well in training a month ago — much faster than anybody at the park last Saturday. I am sure that she will recover well and will soon be running at least as well as she did last year. I have great confidence in her,” he said.

In spite of her troubles, Miss Peterson has been among New Zealand’s most successful and consistent sprinters for almost a decade. After a slow start to the season last year, she came through to claim a fine second place behind Kim Robertson (Auckland) in the New Zealand 100 m championship. Miss Robertson, a Commonwealth Games representative and acknowledged as New Zealand’s finest woman sprinter, recorded 12.135. Miss Peterson was a stride behind in 12.255.

The previous season, Miss Peterson was third in both the national 100 m and 200 m finals. Rarely has a national championship meeting been held in the last eight years when she has not been among the major placegetters in at least one of the two short sprints. At Canterbury level her record has been outstanding. She is the current holder of the Canterbury

100 m and 200 m titles. She has held these so often that she has probably lost count of the number. Indeed, Miss Peterson’s name remains sprinkled through the record lists. She holds the girls’ under 16 record at 25.15, set in 1972. She also holds the girls’ under 18 100 m and 200 m records at 11.7 s and 24.25, respectively, both set in 1974. The following year she claimed the senior 100 m record with a fine run of 11.55. This remains unchallenged, bracketed with her electronic timing record of 11.745.

One of her hopes this summer is to race in the two international meetings in Hamilton and Auckland, although cost must have a bearing on this. The much smaller international series has reduced the chances of good overseas competition. Miss Peterson, in spite of her obvious natural talent, has her own theory about why she manages to defeat most of her North Island rivals year after year when

the time comes around to decide the national championships. The predominant wind at Queen Elizabeth II Park is a head one for sprinters, and greater effort is needed for fast times. In Auckland, and some other North Island centres, officials can run the sprints in either direction to take advantage of the following winds.

“They have it too easy,” she said. When Canterbury sprinters went north and raced with the wind they found they could do very well.

This is, of course, only a small part of the explanation for Miss Peterson’s continued success. She is a young woman of unusual ability and with a rare determination to bravely battle on when things look bleak. Her latest setback will be overcome as always and Bev Peterson will be among the chief contenders once again for the New Zealand 100 m and 200 m titles at Auckland on March 10 and 11.