Record score in heptathlon

Press, 25 January 1988, Page 21

Record score in heptathlon

An enthralling twoway struggle for supremacy in the Canterbury under-19 women’s heptathlon championship ended yesterday afternoon in a narrow victory for Joanne Best (North Canterbury). But she had to break the Canterbury record to ensure success. Best ended the two-day contest with 4780 points, adding 49 points to the provincial under-19 record set by Angela Pule in 1982. The runner-up was another young woman of great promise, Joanne Henry (South Canterbury). Her final score of 4729 points was a mere two points short of the Canterbury record.

The lead alternated on several occasions. Best led overnight with 2764 points to Henry’s 2737. But after the first event

yesterday, the long jump, Henry was back in front with a lead of 120 points. She cleared 5.56 m. Best could leap no further than 5.04 m. However, the outcome was decided on the next event, the javelin. Best achieved 38.44 m and established a lead which was big enough to allow her to be beaten in the final event, the 800 m. Henry’s best throw In the javelin was 27.62 m. She won the 800 m in 2min 18.595. Best finished in 2min 21.085, and that was fast enough to be sure of over-all victory. The senior women’s heptathlon was won by a first-year senior, Leanne Meaclem (Old Boys), the only entrant. She had 2851 points overnight, finishing with a respectable total of 4679 points.