Deaf athlete set to race

Press, 26 September 1988, Page 7

Deaf athlete set to race

By

JANE SMYTH

An up-and-coming young Christchurch athlete, Frank Watson, was running in borrowed shoes until first Adidas, then the Kiwanis, heard of his plight and came to the rescue. Now, armed with two new pairs of his own and a grant to help cover his expenses, he is ready to compete in the World Deaf Games in Christchurch next January. Watson, a senior pupil at Van Asch College, has been running competitively for Christchurch’s Olympic Club for about a year. According to his coach, Neville Reid, he is on equal terms with runners his own age despite his moderate-to-profound hearing impairment. He has already bettered the New Zealand deaf record for the 800 m, although not in competition, and put in surprising times for the 800 m, 1500 m, and 3000 m at nondeaf meets, for someone so new to running. “He has got the gear, the ability and the determination. Now all he needs is to train hard,” said Mr Reid.

But he believes competing in the Deaf Games will be a whole new experience for Watson. “He will be competing with runners from all age groups and in a field like that he probably will not get his best shot for another three or four years,” Mr Reid said. Watson, only in his second season, is competing extensively in Canterbury track and crosscountry events. Last year he came second in the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ 3000 m boys event and although he has been plagued with injuries this winter, hopes to better his times this season. His coach believes that without the injuries he would have made the Canterbury team for the New Zealand crosscountry championships. "Quite an achievement for a lad who can’t hear the start gun or take advantage of the lap timer to pace himself,” Mr Reid said. The World Deaf Games, in which Watson will compete are expected to attract about 1600 athletes and will run from January 4 to 18. (