Discus champion moving to Aust.
By
ROD DEW
The New Zealand women’s discus champion for the last two seasons, Elizabeth Ryan, of Canterbury, will spend the next eight months training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Ryan, who turned 21 earlier this month, will travel to Australia with the New Zealand team next week and will contest the Australian championships in Sydney on • March 27, 28. and 29. Her
final commitment will be to the New Zealand team for its match against New South Wales and Canberra on April 4. She will take up residence at the Institute of Sport immediately after this contest. “I think this will give me a better opportunity to reach my potential,” she said of her unexpected move. She will come under the wing of the Australian throwing coach, Merv Kemp, whom she met
when in Australia on holiday last year. Ryan returned to Australia last September and spent a trial period lasting six weeks at the institute. This convinced her that she would have a better future in Australia. This will, however, not prevent her competing for New Zealand in future international contests. “I will always be available for New Zealand,” she said.
In Canberra, Ryan will become almost a full-time
athlete. She will have a part-time job, but will be expected to train twice a day every day. “When I was over there in September my throwing improved so much,” she said. “The people here are not nearly so serious. I will be training with people better than myself. There will be much better opposition for me over there.” After her period at the institute, Ryan is considering a trip to Europe — in a quest for the sort of
form which will take her to Commonwealth Games and Olympic honours. Already, Ryan is on the verge of breaking the 50m barrier. She has a personal best of 49.44 m, and was close to her best in winning the New Zealand championship at Wellington a little more than a week ago. In this she recorded 49.36 m.
“I wanted to get 50tn at the nationals, but didn't quite make it. I think I should do it at the Australian nationals.”
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Bibliographic details
Press, 17 March 1987, Page 52
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368Discus champion moving to Aust. Press, 17 March 1987, Page 52
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