Campbell draws praise

Press, 5 April 1988, Page 45

Campbell draws praise

PA Invercargill I The Invercargill runner. John! Campbell, turned in a personal best to win a half marathon in Queenstown in Ihr 3min 58s yesterday.

1 His performance impressed the national athletics coach, Mr John Davies, who said Campbell's time and ability was world class and the former fisherman should qualify for the Seoul Olympics. ; Campbell, who last week;end was the first New Zealander home in the world crosscountry championships in

thirty-sixth place, knocked Imin 8s off his last year’s record for the Geoffrey Houston Travel half marathon. The Australian cross-coun-try runner. Martin Stock, tailed Campbell until just after the half-way mark and finished second in Ihr smin 13s.

Campbell, bordering on veteran class at 39. was “very pleased" with his time, especially on a "tough course." In winning the women’s event, the Leith club runner. Sarah Lees, slashed 2min 25s off her second place time last

year. Rees crossed the finish line almost Bmin ahead of Fiona McKee, also from the Leith club, in Ihr 17min 325. A total of 514 runners entered the event this year — about 45 more than last year — and the conditions, although slightly windy, were fine and mild. Trevor Dixon of Greymouth won the men’s veteran section in Ihr 13min 14s and another Leith runner. Alana Joyce, was the first veteran woman home in Ihr 27min 355.