Vital race for middle distance men

Press, 7 March 1984, Page 30

Vital race for middle distance men

ROD DEW

previews the national athletics championships in this, an Olympic year.

The superb 1500 m run of 3min 36.7 s by Tony Rodgers (Waikato) at Hamilton last week substantially strengthened his chances of selection in the New Zealand team for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. But he has one major hurdle to face before he can pack his running shoes — the New Zealand 1500 m championship final at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday afternoon. In the absence of John Walker, who is recovering from a minor injury, Rodgers needs to win the title to be sure of competing in his first Olympic Games. And that will be no easy task. Two young athletes who unceremoniously pushed him into the background just before the Brisbane Commonwealth Games, Michael Gilchrist (Canterbury) and Peter O’Donoghue (Auckland), are both eyeing the championship, and the Olympic team. O’Donoghue, who withdrew from the Brisbane Games team because of injury and allowed Rodgers in as a late selection, is only now starting to make his presence felt again.

He recently recorded a 1500 m of 3min 38.35, just outside the Olympic qualifying time of 3min 38s, and so a qualifying run is obviously within his ability. Gilchrist, who has suffered minor but frustrating injuries in the . last two seasons, has experienced difficulty reaching a peak this year. He recorded a personal best of 3min 39.08 s in January, and was close to

this time in another race a fortnight ago. Careful prei paration in the lead-up to ’ the national championship should make all the difference to him. Since the Brisbane Commonwealth Games, Gilchrist has been regarded as New Zealand’s No. 21500 m runner and he confirmed this standing in the abbreviated international series in January. But suddenly he finds himself ranked only fourth behind Walker, Rodgers and O’Donoghue. This is not going to stop him starting as one of the favourites for the national title. It is unlikely that he has ever had a better chance of winning, and this point will not have escaped him. The title will be his target, and the Olympic qualifying time will have to until afterwards. Apart from Gilchrist, Canterbury has two other fine prospects in the 1500 m, Colin McDonald, the surprise winner of the Canterbury title this year, and Peter williams, the 30-year-old Canterbury 800 m champion. McDonald, a former national junior 1500 m champion who made a slow start to the season after recovering from liiuess during the winter, might prove the dark horse of the contest. He has a best time of 3min 41.455, and the ability to lower this substantially I against top competition. Few people now believe that Walker will run the 5000 m at Los Angeles, as he had earlier indicated. He | clearly still prefers the i 1500 m, and with a time of 3min 33.84 s to his credit this 1 season nobody can argue with his right to a place in the 1500 m field. However, this means that only two others can be chosen for the 1500 m, and greatly mcreases the value . New Zealand championship. .. Walker’s withdrawal from the New Zealand 5000 m championship is a disappointment, but the race still Promises to be of rather special interest All the members of the New Zeala®“. I ‘-' r pss-c tH intry team, scheduled to leave for the world in New York soon aftW' the

national track meeting, are expected to start in one of the two long distance track races. It is quite possible that they will face defeat.

The track races are of considerable consequence because the team was chosen on track performances over 5000 m and 10,000 m. The man who is likely to cast mud in the selectors’ eye is Peter Renner (Canterbury), who is aiming for a gold medal double in the 3000 m steeplechase on Saturday and the 5000 m on Sunday. Renner is currently ranked third over 5000 m behind John Bowden (Auckland) and another Canterbury man, Dave Burridge, but he has the experience and ability to give them a lot of trouble in the championship. Renner has al-

ready qualified for the Olympics in the steeplechase, and a win in this is regarded as inevitable.

One Canterbury athlete who does not feature highly in the rankings this year, Andrew Stark, could yet surprise. He is expected to concentrate on the 800 m. A light winter buildup has not given him sufficient strength for the 1500 m, in which he was third last year. Peter Pearless (Auckland) stands out as the chief contender for the 800 m title after his Imin 46.97 s run in Hamilton in January. McDonald (Canterbury) and Chris Rodgers (Waikato) are likely to fight out the minor placings. Canterbury women are likely to dominate the two

distance events, the 3000 m and the 10,000 m. Mary O’Connor, who has already completed a qualifying run for the Olympic marathon, obviously has the ability to win the longer event, which has national championship status for the first time. Wendy Renner, the new Canterbury 5000 m champion, and Sara Harnett (Canterbury) should also play key roles if ihey concentrate on the 10,000 m at the expense of the 3000 m. Just who will line up for which race remains to be seen. But Canterbury’s main hope in the 3000 m must be Sue Bruce, whose 9min 5.95 s run in January gives her second ranking to Lorraine Moller (Auckland). Anne Marie Tweedie should also fare well. Harnett won the title last year, and might be tempted to try for the double. Jan Bishop (Canterbury) brought home two titles, in the discus and the javelin, last year and must have a good chance of repeating this feat. She heads the rankings in both events, and is second to Glenda Hughes (Auckland) in the shot. Lyn Aben and Sally Mene are second and third, respectively, in the javelin, giving Canterbury the top three rankings. Things are not much different in the discus where only Heather Marsters (Auckland), ranked second, breaks up the Canterbury domination. Mrs Mene is ranked third and Vai Young fourth. The outstanding form of Vicky Lewis (Canterbury) this summer suggests that she will make a bold bid for her first senior 100 m title. She is currently ranked second to Andrea Wade (Auckland). Bev Peterson (Canterbury), who rarely leaves a national meeting without a medal of some sort, seems to have her best chance in the 200 m. She is ranked third. In the 400 m, Jo Jones carries Canterbury’s hopes. Her 54.6 s run in December put considerable pressure on Auckland’s Kim Robertson, and it is a long time since Miss Robertson had to worry about ‘ winning races in New Zealand. J, Roger Te Puni, wh’oas

been based in Canterbury much of this season, looks unbeatable in the high jump. His main aim will be to improve his national record of 2.17 m.

Kieran McKee (Canterbury), who has just broken his national pole vault record with a new height of 5.02 m, should regain the pole vault championship he let go undefended last year. His closest rival will be his brother, Derek, who is now up to 4.80 m.

There seems some doubt whether Mike O’Rourke (Auckland) will contest the javelin. If he does not, then Canterbury’s John Stapyl-ton-Smith will be disappointed. Stapylton-Smith actually has the best New Zealand performance this summer of 79m, and he is anxious to break the 80m barrier at the championships.

The meeting of the two Canterbury men, Wayne Paul and Murray Cumberpatch, in the 400 m hurdles promises to be the showdown of the hurdles events. Paul is the defending champion, and Cumberpatch a former champion. Both want to win badly. However, there could be a wild card in the shape of the former Commonwealth Games hurdler, Philip Mills (Auckland). He has the top ranking of 51.695, set in Sydney, and if he returns for the championships there could be some very fast times, and some enthralling competition.