Mackenzie Nearly Equals His Quarter-Mile Record

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 8

Mackenzie Nearly Equals His Quarter-Mile Record

New Zealand’s quarter-mile champion, D. W. Mackenzie (University), went within seven-tenths of a second of his Canterbury' provincial record for the distance during the inter-club track and field meeting at Rugby Park on Saturday.

His was an outstanding performance on a rather soft track. It was a sure indication that Mackenzie is approaching the form necessary to impress selectors for the Jamaica Empire Games.

The stocky runner was in complete command of the race throughout. However, at the finish he was only syd clear of D. Minards (Hornby), who appeared to be gaining ground over the last 30 yards. Mackenzie’s time of 48.9 sec might have been almost a second faster had he not had to contend with an exceptionally strong easterly wind and the track’s soft surface. In spite of this, he would undoubtedly have broken the record had he not been content to coast down the back straight with the following wind.

Minards, seven-tenths of a second slower, was well clear of the third man home, the St. Andrew’s junior, G. McKechnie. A. G. Steel obviously was not prepared to push himself too hard. He was well placed as the field turned for home, only to ease down the straight and trot across the line last.

Earlier in the day Mackenzie won the 100yds comfortably in the relatively slow time of lOsec. Steel w?s .2sec second with Minards well up third. In one of the final events on the programme, the senior 4 x 220yds relay, Steel and Mackenzie provided a grandstand finish, running the last leg for Combined and University respectively. A Tweedy gave the combined team a commanding lead at the end of the penultimate furlong, but Steel appeared to wait deliberately for his arch-rival, Mackenzie, to receive his baton, before he set off for the finish. The pair raced round the bend as if locked together but with Steel calling the tune from the inside lane. Mackenzie made a valiant effort to get past in the straight but Steel, who is still in the middle of his heavy training, had something in reserve. A mighty lunge of his broad shoulders at the tape and honour was satisfied. A combined Old Boys-Hornby team had won by a fraction of an inch. It was a finish in the best traditions of athletics. Mile To Jones It did not, however, detract from the fine performance of B. Jones (University) in the mile. He took the lead from J. D. Macdonald (Riccarton) coming out of the south bend on the opening lap and was never again headed, winning in the outstanding time of 4min 9.lsec. It was generally accepted that this time would have been 4min ssec had conditions been better. The -time was only 2.2 sec outside A. •G. Pyne’s Canterbury record of 4min 6.9 sec. Macdonald, who finished well up second, also recorded a good time, 4min Usee. B. Smith (Technical), runner-up ahead of Macdonald for the Canterbury title last season, could not match the pace of the other two and dropped back on the third lap. The 16-year-old Technical Junior, Miss B. Poulsen, indicated that she will be in fine form for her clash with Irena Press (Russia) and Pam Kilborne (Australia) next Saturday when she equalled the Canterbury record of 11.6 sec for the 80 metres hurdles. Her time was not recognised because of wind assisttance.

Miss J. Rose, the outstanding young Geraldine runner, won the women’s 100 yards event comfortably in her first competitive appearance in Christchurch this season. Her time of U.4sec was good, comparing favourably with the times of the Canterbury champion, Miss L. Hurrell (Tech-

nical), who was absent frm the meeting. Results were:— MEN’S EVENTS Senior 100 Yards. —A grade: D. W. Mackenzie (U.), 10.0, 1; A. G. Steel (H.S.), 10.2, 2; D. Minards (H.), 3. B grade: P. Sharr (H.S.), 11.0, 1; D. Stevenson (U.). 11.1. 2; G. McNabb (S.), 3. 440 Yards.—A grade: D. W. Mackenzie (U.), 48.9, 1; D. Minards (H.), 49.6, 2: G. McKechnie (St. A.), 3. B grade: N. Shipley (H.S.), 51.3, 1; D. Stevenson (U-), 51.8, 2; T. Crossen (U.), 3. Mile.—A grade: B. Jones (U.), 4:09.1, 1: J. D. Macdonald (Ric.). 4:11.0. 2: B. Smith (T.), 3. B grade: K. Hamilton (T.). 4:23.9, 1; G. Whitfield (Ric.). 4:32.4, 2; B. Lewis (O.), 3. Relay, 4 x 220 Yards. —Combined (Shipley, Minards, Tweedie, Steel). 1:33.2, 1; University, 1:33.3, 2. Shot Put. —R. Lewis (T.), 1. Pole Vault.—C. Stricke (T.), 12:00, 1; D. C. Leary (Ric.), 11.00, 2; J. Chadderton (T.), 10:4, 3. Long Jump.—P. Rosanowski (Te.). 22:10, 1: R. Wilson (W.), 20:101, 2; W. Speirs (T.), 20:04}, 3. Junior 75 Yards.—A. Tweedie (H.S.), 8.2, 1; C. Baker (Ric.), 8.3, 2; G. McKechnie (St. A.), 3. 220 Yards.—G. McKechnie (St. A. 23.1, 1; A. Tweedie (H.S.), 23.1, 2; M. Gleason (H.S.), 3. 880 Yards.—P. Robertson (M.), 2:03.0, 1; T. Mcllwraith (Ric.), 2:03.2, 2; D. McLellan (Ric.), 3. Two Miles.—B. Bruce (St. M.), 10:04.2, 1; C. King (St. M.), 10:05.8, 2; R. Merrifield, 3. Discus. —J. Braden (P.H.), 116:05, 1. Under 17 75 Yards.—G. Langham (H.S.), 8.3, 1; A. Gilmour (T.), 8.4, 2; B. Lowcay (O.) 3. 220 Yards. —A grade: G. Langham (H.S.), 23.7, 1; N. Harrington (T.H.), 23.8, 2; A. Gilmour (T.), 3. B grade: D. Matson (C.C.). 28.5, 1: R. Wilson (W.), 28.8, 2: R. Latham (T.H.), 3. 880 Yards.—B. Mernham (O.), 2:10.1, 1; A. E. Ellis (St. M.), 2:11.4, 2; C. Gleason (T.H.), 3. Under IS 75 Yards.—B. Bishop (T.H.), 8.6, 1; J. Cullen (N. 8. 8.6, 2; A. Williams (Napier). 3. 220 Yards..—J. Cullen (N. 8. 25.6, 1: A. Williams (Napier), 2; B, Bishop (T.H.), 3. 880 Yards.—B. Rollo (N. 8. 2:05.0, 1; G. Rollo (N. 8. 2:17.4, 2; J. Cullen (N. 8. 3. 80 Metres Hurdles.—B. Rollo (N. 8. 13.5, 1; G. Rollo (N. 8. 13.6, 2. WOMEN'S EVENTS Senior 100 Yards.—J. Rose (G.), 11.4, 1; B. Poulsen (T.), 11.6, 2; L. Cullen (Balclutha), 3. 440 Yards.—L. Cullen (Balclutha), 63.2, 1; J. Horton (N. 8. 64.2, 2; P. Clausen (T.H.), 3. 80 Metres Hurdles.—B. Poulsen (T.), 11.5, 1; V. Gilmore (T.), 12.2. 2.

Relay, 4 x 100 Yards.—Technical (Cotterill. Gilmour, Poulsem> Johns), 54.4, 1; Toe H. 54.1, Under 17 100 Yards. —J. Latter (T.H.), 12.6, 1; C. Voice (Masterton), 12.9, 2: J. Horton (N. 8. 3. 440 Yards. —D. Wright (Chch. Harriers), 1:08.9, 1: C. Smith (N. 8. 1:09.1, 2; C. Voice (Masterton), 3. 80 Metres Hurdles.—D. Shiplev (T.H.), 12.8, 1; P. Craighead (Rga.), 13.2, 2; J. Horton (N. 8.

Discus. —B. Poulsem (T.), 112:00, 1; J. Horton (N. 8. 83:03, 2.