Poelman dashes through 100m

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 4

Poelman dashes through 100m

PA Wanganui The Aucklander Simon Poelman continued his buildup to this year’s Seoul Olympics in style at last evening’s grand prix track and field meeting in Wanganui. Poelman, with a decathlon best of 8296, represented New Zealand at last year’s world athletics championships in Rome, finishing sixth. Last evening, in perfect conditions at Cooks Gardens, Poelman dashed through the 100 m in impressive style before heading off to contest the long jump. He flew from the blocks in the sprint and never looked like being headed, cruising through in

10.7 seconds, ahead of Otago’s Grant McNeil, who took second with 10.9. The national champion, Shane Downey (Auckland), never threatened, hanging on for third in 11 seconds flat. Originally down to contests the shot put and long jump, Poelman flagged the shot to concentrate on the long jump, finishing fourth on 6.95 m behind Willie Hinchcliffe (Auckland), who won with 7.19 m. Auckland team-mate, Jonathon Moyle, the national junior long jump champion, was second on 7.13 m and Wellington’s Allan Whitton third with 6.99 m.