Bowden has the speed to break N.Z. record

Press, 23 November 1988, Page 36

Bowden has the speed to break N.Z. record

By

ROD DEW

New Zealand’s fastest sprinter, Scott Bowden, of

Christchurch, will blast aside the national allcomers records for 100 m and 200 m if he achieves the target times he has set for himself this summer. Bowden, who is nearly 20, has his sights on a 10.2 s 100 m and 20.4 s or 20.5 s for 200 m. Such performances would cast a long shadow over the existing all-comers records of 10.31 s and 20.625, respectively, set by the great Scottish sprinter, Allan Wells. For those who assumed that the tall Canterbury sprinter would concentrate on the 400 m, the apparent switch of emphasis to the short sprints will come as a surprise.

But his remarkable 10.56 s win in the New Zealand junior 100 m final at Hamilton earlier this year left no doubt that he has unusual potential and considerable talent as far as sheer speed is concerned. The time was a New Zealand junior record, and the second-fastest ever run by a New Zealander. Although conditions for the race were not good after recent rain, Bowden surged through the field after a bad start in a manner which left some very capable speedsters wondering why they had bothered entering. Bowden was surprised too. In a season upset by injury, this was only his ninth race. “I thought that the time would perhaps be 10.965, but when I was told 10.56 s — that was brilliant. It didn’t feel that quick.”

A hamstring injury to his left leg has temporarily removed Bowden from competition. It is, however, not serious. He is training well, and expects to be back on the track before the middle of next month.

Considering his recent injury problems, Bowden was “not impressed” when his hamstring nipped up 30m from the finish of a 100 m sprint at ..46

Queen Elizabeth II Park some three weeks ago. In spite of this, he is not too unhappy about the problems, which he considers a minor one.

His training programme is unaffected, and he can only just feel the injury. In staying away from competition, he is simply playing safe. “I, would rather get it completely straightened out than come out early and blow it. This is a big season for me.”

This summer may well decide whether Bowden becomes New Zealand’s greatest sprinter, or one of a host of very capable runners who never, managed to bridge the gap between national and international competition.

Bowden is now coached by- Kevin Hickman, who has carved out an enviable reputation as a sprint coach in recent times. He is also the coach of the New Zealand women’s 100 m champion, Bev Peterson, and the former New Zealand triple jump champion, Evan Peterson, who is now concentrating on the 400 m hurdles with the sprints as a back-up. Mr Hickman clearly has the confidence of Bowden, who has sacrificed a long and profitable association with the New Brighton club to join Mr Hickman’s club, Technical. It was a move which Bowden made with great reluc-

tance. “I am very sorry to leave New Brighton because the club has been very good to me. I would like to have stayed, but New Brighton has no

sprinters. I am training with Technical sprinters ' under Kevin Hickman, so the logical thing was to move.”

His reluctance to leave New Brighton was mirrored in the fact that he chose to do his early racing as a national Chelsea squad member this summer. Two years ago, Bowden seemed set to become New Zealand’s leading

400 m sprinter. He won the New Zealand junior 400 m championship as a 17-year-old in 47.625, a time faster than that achieved by the winner of the senior final. He represented New Zealand over 400 m in the world junior championships in Athens in 1986. In this same year, Bowden won the New Zealand secondary schools 400 m championship in a record time of 47.895, and the New Zealand colts 400 m championship, as well as the junior 400 m championship. His destiny seemed clear. His ability over 400 m was outstanding. And yet he continued to show sparkle over the shorter distances as well. Now he has reached the conclusion that if he wants to become a worldclass 400 m runner, then he must achieve the same level in the short sprints first.

“These days the 400 m is so quick that you have got to get your speed up,” he said. “At the moment, I am not even thinking about the 400 m.” If he does step out over the one lap, it will simply be a one-off appearance as part of his training. The challenges ahead are big ones, and Bowden looks forward to them with enthusiasm. He is

shooting right for the top. The world championships in Barcelona next September, the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1990 and the next Olympic Games are all on his agenda. “You name it, I am going for it,” he said. As far as the Auckland Games are concerned, Bowden is aiming to reach the finals of both the 100 m and 200 m, and believes he has the ability to take a medal in the longer sprint. He has a personal-best of 21.205, set last year, and is unruffled with the prospect of chopping a full second off this in the next four months. His programme leading up to the Commonwealth Games is a full and comprehensive one. He will contest the national invitation series of meetings being introduced this summer, building up to the New Zealand 100 m and 200 m championships at Auckland in March. Results at this meeting will have a direct bearing on selections for the 1990 Games team, so top performances are essential. The competition will be tough, and Bowden knows it. Such capable and experienced sprinters as Simon Poelman (Auckland), who is the current senior title-holder, Dale McClunie (Waikato), Mark Woods, John Ryan and the holder of the New Zealand national record, Shane Downey (all Auckland), Murray Gutry (Waikato) and Cantebury’s Grant Gilbert will also be hoping to impress the selectors with bold \ performances. With the New Zealand nationals behind him, Bowden will move across the Tasman for a tilt at the Australian championships, in Brisbane on March 18 and 19. Good performances in these will seal his selection for the Oceania team for the world championships. If he is selected, he will spend some time racing in Europe