Renner learns much from tour

Press, 11 September 1985, Page 60

Renner learns much from tour

By ROD DEW New Zealand’s globe-trot-ting steeplechaser, Peter Renner, is back home in Christchurch after completing a hectic programme of international racing in the United States and Europe during the last four months. “I tried to do too much, and I have learnt some lessons from it,” he said yesterday. “I raced too often, and I did not pick my meetings like I should have. Without a home base in Europe, you tend to go from meeting to meeting, and end up running every three days. “I simply ran myself flat, both physically and mentally.” Renner described his performance as “pretty average,” that depends

on your point of view. He won a gold medal in the Pacific . Conference Games in California, and early in the European tour he completed a steeplechase in Bmin 16s — less than 2s outside his New Zealand record — in an international meeting in Nice. Had it not been for a fall at the last hurdle, his time would have been around 8:16. A run of 8:22 in Switzerland a short time later was also a worthy effort. He also ran a personal best 1500 m flat in 3:42, and another in 3:44. In spite of this, the Los Angeles Olympic finalist is disappointed that he did not manage to lower his national steeples record. However, he has not given up this particular quest yet.

“I have still got a chance of running a fast one in the World Cup at Canberra next month,” he said. “I have come home to freshen up and do a few longer runs before the World Cup contest.” Renner is one of only 10 New Zealand athletes included in the Oceania team for the World Cup event, which will be held on October 4, 5 and 6. He believes that a few weeks training in his own environment will enable him to regain the peak form he needs to do well. “I am not unfit. I am just sick of travelling and hotel rooms.” A time of about 8:15 will be needed to win the steeplechase at Canberra, and Renner hopes he will be capable of achieving such a

time on the day. “I will be aiming for a medal,” he said. He expects his chief rival to be Henry Marsh (United States), who heads the world rankings this year with a time of 8:9. “Whether he can hold this sort of form remains to be seen. We have the advantage this time, in that the rest of the world has to travel.” Other respected rivals include Patrick Ilgz (West Germany), who is the European champion, Graeme Fell (Canada), Peter Koich (Kenya) and Bronislaw Maminski (Poland). After the World Cup, Renner will have a wellearned break before building up for the track season and a tilt at the New Zealand team for the world crosscountry champion-

ships in Switzerland in March. He wants to run some fast 5000 m races on the track, as well as some quality steeplechases. Then all his attention will turn to the Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh, in which he will be a gold medal prospect for the steeplechase. He will restrict his racing in Europe before the Games to three or four races. This Saturday, Renner will run the fourth lap for his club, Bascik New Brighton, in the Takahe-to-Akaroa road relay race, which this year is also the New Zealand road relay championship. “It is a short lap, and will just be a training run for me. I just hope it is not too windy.” z