Blistering 1500m win to in-form Gilbert

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 33

Blistering 1500m win to in-form Gilbert

The 1985 New Zealand junior 2000 m steeplechase and 5000 m champion, John Gilbert (New Brighton), continued his recent resurgence with a rousing victory in the senior men’s 1500 m at the Canterbury inter-club track and field meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. Gilbert, who has adopted a low-key approach to athletics in recent seasons, proved much too strong for the good field, finishing in a worthy 3mln 56.85.

Richard Lindroos (United) claimed the runner-up position in 3min 55.15, comfortably clear of the experienced former national 800 m champion, Bruce Hunter (United). Hunter recorded 4min 1.25.

In line with the Canterbury Athletic Centre’s new policy on track events, the women ran with the men. The first home, in seventh place, was Debbie Tipper (Uni-

versity). She was shadowed for much of the distance by Tina Morrell (Old Boys), but on the final lap Tipper pulled away, crossing the line in 4min 37.55. Morrell drifted back but was. still able to retain second place ahead of the fastfinishing Phillipa Nicholls (University). "That was a good run considering it was only her second 1500 m of the season,” Tipper’s coach, Mr Bob Grieve, said afterwards. "She is looking good.” The athlete of the week award went to a junior from Ashburton, Steven Rollings, who cleared 2m in the junior high jump. The junior award was won by Simon Geary (Old Boys) for his win in the senior 100 m in 11.55. This was achieved against a substantial head wind of 4.1 m per second. Geary’s victory was a close thing, however; Craig Galilee (Old Boys) and Bernard Treacy (Old

Boys), who filled the minor platings, were both credited with the same time. So, too, were the first two finishers in the junior 100 m, John King (Papanui-Toc H) and Craig Gray (St Andrew’s College). Treacy, who is also a junior, was the fastest in the 200 m sprints, winning the first race with a strong finish in 23.11 s from Rhys Bateman (Avon).

Chris Barrett (PapanuiToc H) scored an excellent field events double, with victories in the senior hammer and discus. In the latter event he sent the ball and wire hurtling out to 48.60 m for a comfortable victory over a visitor from Waikato, Mark Doyle. Doyle’s best throw on the day was 41.36 m.

In the discus, Barrett was even more the master. His best effort of 47.62 m put him well out of reach of any of the other competitors.

The former New Zealand cross-country representative, Bruce Rattray (Christchurch), was a convincing winner of the senior 3000 m in a modest Bmin 40.25. Bill Templeton (Christchurch) was his closest rival. He finished second in Bmin 54.25. Wayne Stewart (Old Boys) moved towards the 15m mark with a solid distance of 14.81 m in the triple jump. He had two other jumps of more than 14m. In the third round he achieved 14.37 m and in the fourth round he cleared 14.49 m. His big effort came in the fifth round.

In the women’s shot, Tania Lutton (Technical) was the winner with an excellent distance of 12.47 m. But she was only one of a handful of leading athletes at the meeting. Most were saving themselves for the qualifying meeting yesterday for the Newmans inter-city national club competition.