Paul confident of running personal best
From
ROD DEW
in Edinburgh
“I feel great, but I am down on racing," said the Canterbury and New Zealand 400 m hurdles champion, Wayne Paul, yesterday after training for the first time on the Edmonton Commonwealth Games competition track at Meadowbank Stadium. His workout, with one of the New Zealand team coaches, Penny Hunt, was a modest one but it went well, and he is looking forward to the international contest ahead. He is untroubled that he will probably have to run faster than his personal best of 50.7 s to reach the final on Tuesday morning (New Zealand time). “I am going to have to record a personal best, that’s for sure, but I have done all the work, and my training has been better than it has been at home. When the time comes, I will go for it,” said Paul. His task has been made only slightly easier by the boycott. The top-ranked hurdler, Henry Amike (Nigeria), will be missing. This leaves an Englishman, Max Robertson, as
the hurdler to beat. He is one of only two sub-50s hurdlers in the Commonwealth behind Amike. His best time Is 49.535, which is very fast John Graham (Canada) and another English athlete, Gary Oakes, are right behind. Paul visits the competition . arena for the first time on Sunday (Monday morning New Zealand time) for the heats, and these should present no problems. He is hoping for an outside lane draw, In marked contrast to his wishes of a year or two ago. Since leaving New Zealand, Paul has had four hurdles races, which were two more' than he expected. His .most recent was in Birmingham . last week-end when he ran what he describes as a disappointing race for fourth in 52.15. “I ran too slow at the start, and I had too much left at the finish. Still, it is better that I make my misjudgments there than at the Games.”
While -in Spain, recently, he recorded 51.15, which was rather better if still slower than he would have liked. “I need racing experience, and I certainly can’t get that at home.”
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Bibliographic details
Press, 23 July 1986, Page 20
Word Count
360Paul confident of running personal best Press, 23 July 1986, Page 20
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