Peterson seeks triple jump selection for Edinburgh

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 54

Peterson seeks triple jump selection for Edinburgh

By

ROD DEW

The loss of a month of valuable preparation because of a training injury to his right foot has not reduced the determination of the highly regarded New Zealand triple and long jumper, Evan Peterson, to make a bold bid for Commonwealth Games selection this summer. He has chosen the triple jump in which to make his main assault on the Games qualifying standards — a decision prompted by his second placing to Robert Hutson (Wellington) in the New Zealand championship at Dunedin earlier this year with a personal best distance of 15.05 m. After a very solid winter build-up, Peterson was hoping for a strong beginning on his return to Canterbury after a three-year spell as a Hamilton representative. But he missed the first meeting of the season because of a heavy cold, and ■the following week he landed a little heavily at the end of the hop while training for the triple jump. The ligaments in the arch of his right foot were badly strained, and his ankle was also affected. “Maybe it is a blessing in disguise,” he said after winning the inter-club long

jump at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday with a modest leap of 6.86 m. “If I had started well I might have peaked too early. A month off has put me back, but the season is not over yet.” Peterson, aged 24, competed in the long jump on Saturday against the advice of his physiotherapist. He felt he had to make an appearance to convince the Canterbury selectors that he was serious about wanting a place in the team for the annual triangular meeting against Otago and Southland at Dunedin on December 14. The desire to realise the great potential he displayed as a junior remains strong. In his junior days, Peterson appeared ,to have the measure of his long-stand-ing rival, Stephen Walsh (Otago). He won the New Zealand junior long jump title twice, and his national junior record of 7.34 m, set five years ago, remains unchallenged. It was Walsh, however, who went on to Commonwealth Games and Olympic representative honours while a series of injuries forced Peterson to put his career on hold. Last season, while competing for Hamilton, the old sparkle

was back and Peterson recorded personal best performances in both the long jump (7.42 m and the triple jump.

His progress in the triple jump was particularly heartening. Just a week after his 15.05 m performance at Dunedin, he recorded another 15-metre distance and this convinced him that he can clear even greater distances. This season he will be very disappointed if he does not hop, step and jump 15.90 m, which would give him the Canterbury record held since 1973 by Ken Simpson at 15.23 m. “I have got to get into the high fifteens,” he said. The qualifying distance for the Commonwealth Games is 16.20 m, which represents an even tougher target. Peterson is not expecting miracles, especially after his injury setback, although he intends to aim at the qualifying standard. “I have got my sights on the Commonwealth Games. You have to aim for something,” he said. Peterson holds the Cantebury long jump record at 7.40 m, a mark set before he moved north three years ago. This will become his second event, although he is

hoping for some big jumps in this as well. “I am a little too heavy for a long jumper. My physique suits the triple jump more,” he said. He weighs 81kg and plans to lose some of this. . Sprinting will remain an important part of his competition. He has competed in the sprints on the last two Saturdays, but the races have been on grass on the back ground while the allweather track is being repaired. “I don’t really know where I am in the sprints, but I feel okay. I am quite happy on the grass.” Peterson intends to take his sprinting “just as seriously as ever.” Speed was essential for good performances in the triple and long jumps, he said. "All the top jumpers are fast guys.” He has best performances of 10.5 s for 100 m, and 21.8 s for 200 m. He is also a former Canterbury 200 m sprint champion.

Suggestions that his athletic abilities might.be more efficiently employed in the 400 m hurdles prompted him to test himself in this event while he was in Hamilton. “I did dabble in the event, but I have decided not to

carry on with it. One of the reasons is that I couldn’t get the knack of hurdling. I am wrong-legged for it It just wouldn’t work” In Hamilton, Peterson came under the coaching influence of the Olympic canoeing gold medallist, lan Ferguson, and he intends to stick with Ferguson’s basic programme. At the same time he is constantly looking for helpful advice. “I will listen to anyone’s comments, as long as they are constructive.” Although it is unlikely that he will be ready for maximum effort in his jumping for a week or two. yet, Peterson remains enthusiastic about the future. “It is fairly hard to gauge how I am doing, but I am fairly confident that I am beginning to come right.” There is one very important appointment which he does not want to miss — the New Zealand championships which this season are being held at Queen Elizabeth II Park on March 7, 8 and 9. Peterson is looking forward to a rematch with Hutson in the triple jump, and the prospect of a slightly different result — his first senior national title win.