Morale boosting win for Clode in 5000m

Press, 20 February 1989, Page 29

Morale boosting win for Clode in 5000m

PA Hamilton Canterbury’s Phil Clode gave warning on Sunday that he will be hard to beat when he defends his national 5000 m title in Auckland next month. Clode wore down a strong field to win the 5000 m in Saturday’s Chelsea award track and field meeting at Poritt Stadium, clocking a respectable, if not flashy, 13:53.90.

Initially pushed by a former national cross-country representative, Dave Burridge (Christchurch), Waikato’s Mark Furlan and the Aucklander, John Bowden, Clode eased away after setting a solid early pace.

Only Burridge was able to make any attempt to chase, and although he closed the gap, Clode had too much pace over the final stages. “It started hurting a mile

out and that is when it’s a bit easier if you have got someone with you,” he said afterwards. “But that’s my first 5000 m of the year, so I am quite happy.” Burridge finished well for second in 13:58.53 with Bowden a distant third on 14:17.61. The other feature distance event on the track was the women’s 10,000 m, which also doubled as the national championship and attracted three loneiy starters. The eventual winner, Marguerite Buist (Waikato), did not let the lack of competition worry her, even though she was on her own virtually after the first lap. After lapping regular 76s early in the race, Buist slipped back as the hot and breezy conditions sapped her strength and concentrated on bettering the 1990 Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 33:22.

Not even the welcome help of Mary O’Connor (Canterbury) over the closing stages could help. Although lapped, O’Connor upped the pace in an attempt to help drag Buist below the standard.

She was just outside, finishing in 33:23.56, with O’Connor second (34:41.61) and Sharon Higgins (Auckland) third with 35:23.56. Buist was disappointed with the time — “I know I am in better shape than that” — but pleased to have survived what was virtually a time trial in unfriendly conditions. Canterbury’s Peter Renner was another who had to do it all on his own, finishing over almost half a minute clear of his nearest opposition in the 3000 m steeplechase. Renner, returning to the track for the 1990 Games after concentrating more on the marathon in recent years, recorded 8:26.23 and looks to be nearing the form that saw him set a national record of

8:14.05 five years ago. In the field events, only the Auckland thrower, Nerida Morris, produced a performance of real note. She won the women’s discus with 50.18 m to become the third New Zealander in a month to better the 50m mark after Liz Ryan and Siu Ikavuka broke a 21-year drought in Christchurch last month. Sprinters featured with some sharp times and close finishes, with Hastings’ Helen Pirovano’s 13.595ec 100 m hurdles win the highlight. The national junior 100 m champion, Scott Bowden (Canterbury), held on for a 10.695ec win of the men’s 100 m ahead of Waikato’s Murray Gutry (10.70).

In the men’s 200 m, the national champion, Dale McClunie (Waikato), stormed home over the final 20m to snatch victory from the Auckland colt, Cameron Taylor, recording 21.13 to Taylor’s 21.16.