Few top N.Z. athletes for new season

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 36

Few top N.Z. athletes for new season

By

ROD DEW

It is difficult to recall a period when New Zealand’s track and field standing on the international scene has been as depressed as it is at present. The Auckland decathlete, Simon Poelman, is the only competitor ranked in the top 10 in the latest world ranking lists. Even John Walker, who for so long has helped New Zealand hold its head high, languishes in seventeenth position in thelsoom. It is not so much that New Zealand’s standard

has fallen, although there can be no doubt that there has been some decline in certain areas. Rather, it is the rest of the world which has moved ahead. There is no doubt New Zealand has its track and field back to the wall, and yet the domestic season which opens on Saturday provides an opportunity for giant strides to be taken. The Incentive for top athletes to rise above themselves has rarely been greater. There is the usual big build up for the Olympic

Games, to be held in Seoul next year. In Canterbury, such athletes as Dave Burridge (5000 m and 10,000 m), Peter Renner (steeplechase), Sue Bruce (1500 m and Mary O’Connor (marathon) will have a special interest in these. The greatest Influence on the summer competition, however, Is likely to come from the world cross-country championships, which will be held

at the Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland on March 26. Quite clearly selection in the New Zealand team for this will depend to a large extent on performances on the track, but the greatest benefits seem likely to come from the competition Offered by internationalathletes coming to New Zealand early to acclimatise themselves. Big fields of overseas athletes, particularly in

the distance events, are expected at the New Zealand championships on March 11, 12 and 13 in Hamilton. The championships will retain the format used .last summer for the first time. Some of the overseas cross-country runners, most of whom are also outstanding track athletes, are expected in New Zealand long before the championships and .a few., might even spend the bulk of the summer racing and training in this country. An international track meeting will be held at

Hamilton on February 24, and another big international meeting is planned for February 27 in Auckland. This will incorporate the annual Robin Tait Memorial “throws” meeting, and the one-hour multi-events. The Canterbury interclub season opens at Queen Elizabeth II Park tomorrow, and the season’s programme will follow . much the; same courseas. previous y seasons. The A.N.Z.' Bank club championships will be held over two days on

November 7 and 14. Canterbury can feel' disappointed that it has not been allocated any national grand prix meetings this season, a state of affairs which is not to be encouraged. The two main events of the summer promise to be the annual Technical club’s invitation meeting on December 19* which will Incorporate the /first of the season's "Canterbury . championships, the 10,000 m, and the traditional Dorrie Leslie contest on January 16. _ : ■■■ ■ ■