Miss Kilborn’s Record

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30960, 17 January 1966, Page 13

Miss Kilborn’s Record

The diminutive Australian sprinter, Miss Pam Kilborn, moved a step closer to regaining her world hurdles record when she narrowly beat the Russian all-rounder, Miss Irina Press, in both the women’s international 100 yards sprint and 80 metres hurdles at Lancaster Park on Saturday.

In the 80 metres hurdles—one of the feature events of the international programme —Miss Kilborn finished half-a-yard clear of Miss Press, the current world record holder for the event at 10.3 sec, and clipped a tenth of a second off the New Zealand open record. Her winning time for the race was 10.5 sec, achieved into a brisk head wind of more than sft per sec which cost her any chance of bettering the world record. “I felt that the wind really hit me at the half-way mark,” Miss Kilborn said after the race. When the starter called the competitors to their marks, Miss Press raced up to her starting blocks as if anxious to get under way. Miss Kilborn and the rest of the field went to theirs more sedately. At the crack of the gun, the Australian girl swung into action beautifully and at the first hurdle was just in front Half-way down the track Miss Press made a supreme effort and managed to draw level but over the final 10 yards Miss Kilborn produced a strong finishing burst which sent her through the tape just >n front.

In finishing second, Miss Press equalled Miss Kilborn’s old New Zealand record of 10.6 sec. Third place went to Canterbury’s 16-year-old hurdles prospect, Miss B. Poulsen. Her time of 11.7 sec was one of the best by a local athlete for some time, being only a tenth of a second outside the present provincial record held by Mrs L. Wilson. The 100 yards event was an even closer struggle between these two great women athletes. They rose out of their blocks together and right throughout the length of the race it was impossible for the average spectator to separate them.

At the finish they were still locked together and even the time-keepers found it impossible to differentiate. Both were given the same time, 10.9 sec. However, the judges decided in favour of ‘he flying Australian. This was undoubtedly the finest finish of the meeting, a finish in the best traditions of international athletics.

Geraldine’s young sprinter, Miss J. Rose, finished in third place, almost unnoticed by the wildly excited crowd. Put hers was an outstanding performance for a 17-year-old. She was only slightly more than a yard behind the two struggling leaders to finish in the good time of 11.4 s Women’s Shot The women’s shot put was something of a disappointment. The world record-hold-er, Miss Tamara Press, was well below her best form althbugh she was untroubled to win with a throw of 54ft 2in. This was below the present recognised New Zealand record of 54ft 10in, held by

Mrs V. I. Young (Canterbury), now retired. However, Miss Press Is assured of having her name on the record books before she leaves this country for she has already tossed the shot to 57ft 2in on the present tour.

New Zealand’s leading woman shot putter, Miss D. Charteris (Canterbury), was also badly out of form, her best throw being only 43ft sin, well below the standard expected of a New Zealand Empire Games aspirant. At one stage she was in danger of being beaten by 15-year-old Miss S. A. Flynn, who finished third with a good throw of 42ft 9iin. New Zealand’s Olympic 800 metres bronze medaleist, Mrs M. A. Stephen (Canterbury), was another who was unable to produce her best form in front of the enthusiastic crowd. She cut out her first lap of the 880 yards in an excellent 62sec but faded badly over the final 220 yards to win in 2min 10.3 sec, just outside the Olympic qualifying time of 2min 9sec. However, she never had any competition and was forced to make her own pace throughout. Miss C. Russell (Shirley) was second, more than 12sec behind.

The New Zealand pentathlon champion, Miss L. Curtis (Canterbury), narrowly defeated her club-mate, Mrs L. E. Anderson, on a countback in the invitation high jump. Both athletes jumped sft 3in. The most notable facet of the contest was the brilliant performance of Mrs Wilson’s 13-year-old sister, Miss L. Anderson, who jumped sft 2i- to finish third.