Lowsley wins 10,000m title with ease

Press, 30 January 1986, Page 36

Lowsley wins 10,000m title with ease

The Brisbane Commonwealth Games steeplechaser, Neil Lowsley (Bascik New Brighton), won the Canterbury 10,000 m track championship in effortless fashion at Queen Elizabeth II Park last evening. He moved into the lead after less than three laps and steadily pulled ahead, crossing the finish more than 300 m ahead of his closest rival in a worthy 30min 8.45. Mel Radcliffe (new Brighton), best known for his marathon exploits, was second in 31min 4.95. Ron McTaggart gave New Brighton a clean sweep of the major placings when he claimed third in 31min 15.95.

The race was the first over 10,000 m for Lowsley, who could offer no real explanation why he decided to run. "I suppose I just wanted to see what it would be like. I just wanted a blow-out.”

Lowsley is concerned about his lack of form this season. “I feel pretty tired, but there doesn’t seem any reason for it. I

am going to keep going and hope that I get back in form.” He intends to retain the steeplechase as his main event, and is hopeful of running one before the New Zealand championship in Christchurch in March.

Many of Canterbury’s leading distance runners on the track were missing from the field last evening, some because of a fear of blunting their performance in two big events this week-end — the Wang marathon at Auckland and the New Zealand 10,000 m championship at Wellington. The women’s 10,000 m championship, run in conjunction with the race for B grade men, was won by the outstanding veteran, Margaret Walker (Technical) in 37min 15.45. Sarah Farquharson (St Martins) was a distant second in 43min 7.65.

Clive Kitchingham (Olympic) won the B grade race in 32min 53.5 s from Greg Clark (Toe H) and Brent Harris (Olympic).