RARE POTENTIAL

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 11

RARE POTENTIAL

ONE of the most promising " performances at the New Zealand track and field championships last week-end was undoubtedly that of the 16-year-old Canterbury competitor, Miss Barbara Poulsen. Against the cream of the Dominion’s women athletes, she took third place in the 100 yards (11.2 sec after leading most of the way, third place in the 80 metres hurdles (11.7 sec and third place in the shot put (44ft lin). She was also entered for the long jump, another event in which she excels. This was a splendid performance and a clear indication that if she continues to improve it will not be long before she is wearing New Zealand colours. In fact, only a slight improvement in any one of her three best events could win her a place for this year’s Empire Games team.

In the 100 yards, Miss Poulsen beat the 15-year-old Auckland Games aspdirant, Miss Sherralln Duncan, one

of the upsets of the meeting. Miss Duncan, who turns 16 this month, now could not be considered ahead of the Canterbury girl, and has run practically all her times into a strong easterly wind. So high was the standard

of sprinting that the defending champion, Miss Margaret Snow (Auckland), was unplaced. This week-end the New Zealand pentathlon championship will be decided at Hamilton and Miss Poulsen, who has never competed in a senior pentathlon before, could easily win the title at her first attempt. She is the present holder of the Canterbury junior title. The only event which could jeopardise her chances is the high jump. She reached only 4ft 6in in the provincial championship, while her greatest rivals, Miss L. Curtis (Canterbury), the defending champion, and Mrs L. Wilson, the Canterbury senior champion, are both capable of more than sft. Miss Poulsen has already proved herself to be an athlete of rare potential. She may not be quite ready for Jamaica but she should be approaching her peak in time for the Mexico Olympics in 1968.