PRESS SISTERS MAY NOT COMPETE IN MEXICO!

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 13

PRESS SISTERS MAY NOT COMPETE IN MEXICO!

It was unlikely that the holder of the women’s world records for the shot and discus, Tamara Press, and her equally illustrious sister, Irina, the pentathlon and 80 metres hurdles record-holder, would be available to represent Russia at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games.

This was stated by the Russian coach, Mr Gabriel Korobkov, on his arrival in Christchurch yesterday.

“I would like them to compete in Mexico but there is

some doubt about them being available,” he said. They had reached the stage where they would shortly be considering withdrawing from world-class athletics and he expected it to be before the Mexico games. Not Reached Potential

However, he considers that neither has yet reached her full potential. Depending on how long she stayed in serious competition, Tamara was capable of bettering her present shot and discus world records. He named 19 metres (62ft 4in) for the shot and 62 metres (203 ft sin) for the discus as reasonable targets for her within the next two years. Her present world records stand at 60ft lOJin for the shot and 194 ft 6in for the discus. Change of Seasons It was doubtful whether the two sisters would do anything sensational in New Zealand because of the switch in seasons, said Mr Korobkov. However, there was a possibility that they would produce some world-class performances at the end of the month. Tamara would possibly be able to threaten her world record in the discus if her present progress continued. When asked if Irina would be attempting to improve her world record for the 80 metres hurdles, Mr Korobkov emphasised that her main event was the pentathlon and that the hurdles was only secondary. She holds the world pentathlon record of 5246 points, set in 1964.

Mr Korobkov said that he was very Interested in New Zealand training methods. The hill running and stamina work was “very interesting and very effective.” He also praised the ability of New Zealand’s large band of amateur coaches.

Last evening, he was at Rugby Park to watch local athletes in training and to offer coaching assistance where required. He spent more than half an hour with New Zealand’s top sprinters, A. G. Steel and D. W. Mackenzie, perfecting their starts.

He was assisted by the Christchurch coach, Mrs D. Jameson, who also assisted him at the recent national training school at Trentham. Tomorrow, at 3 p.m., Mr Korobkov will take the Russian athletics team, which will be competing at Lancaster Park on Saturday, to Rugby Park for a special demonstration of coaching and preparation of athletes. In the evening he will address a public meeting in the Red Cross Hall.