Double success gains Gilbert further recognition

Press, 18 March 1985, Page 38

Double success gains Gilbert further recognition

The splendid junior 2000 m steeplechase-500Gm double by John Gilbert (New Brighton) in the national championships at Dunedin received further recognition when he was named as the New Zealand Permanent Building Society “Athlete of the Week” at the final Fresh-up inter-club track and field meeting of the season on Saturday. Gilbert, aged 19, attracted the attention of the Canterbury selectors with a solid win in the senior men’s 3000 m at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday, in Bmin 32.65. This set the seal on his choice as the “Athlete of the Week,” and brought to an end a season of outstanding success for him. The time was 10 seconds outside his personal best, but Gilbert was perfectly satisfied. “I was hoping to be able to break the record, but there were no pacesetters and so there was no point trying.” His closest rival was David Kett (Shirley), the holder of the Canterbury junior record. Kett, however, was not at his best and finished well behind in Bmin 37.35. Gilbert won the New Zealand junior 5000 m and 2000 m steeplechase cham-

pionships at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin a week earlier. He represented New Zealand in the under-23 team which competed against the under-23 English team in Australia and New Zealand and in the last three weeks has run three personal best performances — 3min 52s in the 1500 m, Bmin 22.2 s in the 3000 m, and 14min 42s in the 5000 m. He also has a best of smin 54s for the 2000 m steeplechase, which he considers a secondary event. The coach behind Gilbert is Mr Bill Watt. They have been working together for four years. “It is a very good relationship. I think we will be together for a few more years yet,” he said. A second-year student at the University of Canterbury, the tall, well-spoken Gilbert now intends to spend the winter on a solid, consistent build-up. Next summer, his first as a senior, he plans to put his main effort into the 5000 m and is looking at a time of around 14min 10s. Eventually, he intends to step up to the 10,000 m, but this will not be for at least three years. “I want to get the 5000 m down to 13min 40s before I even attempt a 10,000 m. It is a long dis-

tance, and very hard,” Gilbert said. A second “Athlete of the Week” award on Saturday went to another New Brighton athlete, Sue Bruce, for her unofficial Canterbury 1500 m record of 4min 16.8 s set while running with the men a fortnight ago. The award also recognised her outstanding win in the New Zealand 3000 m championship at Dunedin, and her second place in the 1500 m championship. In the 1500 m she broke the Canterbury record and her unofficial record with a time of 4min 16.75. Bruce was not at the meeting on Saturday and the award was accepted on her behalf by her coach, Mr Dave Thomas. Paul Cuff, the runner-up in the New Zealand 400 m championship at Dunedin and one of the heroes of Canterbury’s remarkable relay successes, made an unexpected appearance at the meeting. Formerly of Canterbury but now living in Auckland, Cuff won the senior 200 m in a smart 22.6 s from Michael Fahey (Old Boys). Earlier, he finished third in the 100 m in 11.25. The 100 m was won by the very promising junior, Scott Bowden (New Brighton), in

Ils. Fahey, a tenth of a second slower, was the runner-up. The women’s senior 200 m was won by a Nelson visitor, Diane Shirley, in a modest 27.85. The inter-club meeting following a national championship meeting usually features a lot of top athletes trying for best performances. But this season has been a long and demanding one, and many top performers were conspicuous by their absence. One event which did feature nationally ranked athletes was the women’s discus. Vai Young (Technical), runner-up in the New Zealand championship with a 45m throw, was a clear winner with a best distance on the day of 43.46 m. The minor placings produced a minor surprise. Elizabeth Ryan (Technical), the bronze medallist at the national championships, was pushed into third place by the Ashburton thrower, Christine Maxwell. Maxwell, a young woman of potential, recorded 41.40 m. Ryan was unable to repeat her 44.30 m throw of the national contest and had to be content with 41m. Members of the Young family also had success in the high jump. Vai Young’s two daughters, Megan and Kirsten, won the under-18 and under-16 grades, respectively, with leaps of 1.63 m and 1.55 m. The shot went to Ryan with a best distance of 13.38 m. In the senior pole vault, Derek McKee (Toe H), runner-up in the national championship, was again runner-up on Saturday, but to a new rival. Greg Caulton (Auckland) and McKee both cleared 4.40 m and the contest was decided in Caulton’s favour on a countback. The national champion, Kieran McKee, did not compete. Vern Roberts (Toe H) won the last senior 800 m race of the season in lmin 51.35. Peter Williams (Gore) was close behind at the finish in lmin 51.55, and the former New Zealand junior champion, David Kett (Shirley), was third. John Stapylton-Smith (Technical), the national javelin champion for the second successive year, was beaten twice on Saturday, but not in his specialist event. He was runner-up in the discus with 33.30 m, and third in the shot. Both events were won by Chris Barrett (Technical) with performances of 47.48 m and 13.71 m, respectively.