Simon Poelman determined to win medal

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 20

Simon Poelman determined to win medal

From

ROD DEW,

in Edinburgh

“To be realistic, Daley Thompson is unbeatable — unless he makes a mistake — and there is always a chance that something like that might happen,” said New Zealand’s decathlon medal hope, Simon Poelman, after his first training session on the Meadowbank Stadium rubber track in cold conditions yesterday.

Thompson, the winner of the last two decathlon Commonwealth Games gold medals and widely regarded as the best allrounter the world has seen, is talking in terms of a world record 9000 points this year. If conditions are suitable in Edinburgh, he might even reach the magic barrier here. If Thompson stumbles, however, the 23-year-old Poelman will be right there to take advantage. He currently holds third ranking behind Thompson (8667 points), and Dave Steen (8244), of Canada, with his New Zealand record score of 8158. ‘My aim is to win a medal. I think I can beat Dave Steen. I am less than 100 points behind him, and I am sure I can pick this up,” said Poelman. Two events in which he can easily pick up an extra 100 points are the 400 m sprint and the pole vault. Last week-end, at Birmingham, he entered the pole vault and was confronted by a starting height of 4.80 m, higher than his personal best. He responded to this challenge by clearing the height and he is looking for his first five-metre clearance in the Games.

In the 400 m, his best is 49.75. He wants to reduce this to at least 495. His one concern is that he lacks a little competition experience. This morning' (New Zealand time) his entry in a pre-

Games meeting in Glasgow will help put this right. He has entered for the 60m sprint, 65m hurdles and two throws, a shot and discus. “Things are going really well. I need one more high jump session. When the games start, I just have to make sure it all happens,” he said. One of Poelman’s main aims is to break 8200 points for the first time in the Games competition, although he readily concedes that if the Scottish weather is cold or wet, as it so often is, then a new national record will be out of the question. Then it will just come down to a fight for the medals. Poelman’s individual sequence of best peformances in the decathlon events — not all of them set in decathlon competi-

tion — are closing rapidly on the highest world standards.

His present list is: 100 m, 10.78 s; long jump, 7.36 m; shot, 14.73 m; high jump, 2.05 m; 400 m, 49.75; 110 m hurdles, 14.425; discus, 44.04 m; pole vault, 4.80 m; javelin, 59.97 m; 1500 m, 4min 245. The brilliant English all-rounder, Thompson, is, of course, the inspiration of the young New Zealander. Thompson, aged 28, already has two Olympic gold medals in his remarkable collection, and he has broken the world record on several occasions. In spite of this, he believes that he has yet to reach his true potential. Poelman hopes to use the considerable attention Thompson will receive at Meadowbank to his own advantage. The atmosphere generated by Thompson will help him strive for greater heights. “I won’t be freaked out by it.” The Games clash with Thompson is being regarded by Poelman as another stepping stone in his climb to the top. "I have improved by about 400 points every year. Thompson is unbeatable now, but in a couple of years I will be getting closer. By the time of the Seoul Olympic Games I would like to think that I can give him a good go.” The two-day decathlon begins in the Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday night (New Zealand time).