Aim is 1500m hat-trick

Press, 5 February 1986, Page 22

Aim is 1500m hat-trick

By

ROD DEW

A third successive Canterbury 1500 m crown will be the aim of Colin McDonald (Technical) when he lines up for the final on the second day of the provincial track and field championships at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Sunday. A big field is expected, and this will be whittled down with heats on Saturday. But these should not trouble McDonald, who has been running well after some troubles with an Achilles tendon. “He is in good form,” his coach, Mr Valdemars Briedis, said yesterday. “I think he should win.” McDonald heads the New Zealand rankings this season, with his 3min 42.5 s run last month. This is a much faster time than anyone else has achieved in Canterbury, but does not mean that McDonald will not have stem competition. At this stage it is not certain who will start. Entries do not close until a short time before the event However, the crosscountry selection worries are now behind the middle distance and distance specialists, and most are expected to contest the 1500 m championship. Peter Renner (New

Brighton) and Dave Burridge (University), who were both selected for the New Zealand cross-coun-try team last week-end, are likely starters. Renner has run the distance in 3min 47.8 s this season and must be a threat. Although he has switched his emphasis to the 5000 m and the steeplechase this summer, Michael Gilchrist (Technical); a former title-holder, is expected to start, and might provide a surprise. He has yet to run a 1500 m this season, but is very experienced in this event. Another former champion, Andrew Stark (Christchurch), has been playing a low-key role this summer. He has run some solid 800 m races recently, and might be ready for a top performance in the longer distance. Neil Lowsley (New Brighton), David Kett (Shirley), Phil Clode (University) and Elliott Drayton (University) are others likely to make a strong impression. The women’s 1500 m championship looks likely to be a keenly fought affair. The New Zealand crosscountry representative, Sue Bruce (New Brighton), has the fastest time of 4min 19s, but it re-

mains to be seen whether she decides to compete after her efforts to run a Commonwealth Games qualifying time In the 3000 m this evening. Behind her, competition will be close. Sharon Hughes (New Brighton) and Caroline Barrie (New Brighton) have both run 4min 32.95, and the very experienced Anne Marie Tweedie (University) has a time only a fraction of a second slower. Mary O’Connor (University), another member of the cross-country team, is a possible starter, as is Wendy Renner (New Brighton). The Canterbury 100 m sprint championships for men and women will both be decided this week-end. On this occasion, the chief interest will be in the women’s event. Bev Peterson (Technical), the runner-up in the national final last year, must be favoured to keep her title. She has a best time of 11.65, the fastest recorded in New Zealand so far this summer. Nicky Doyle (Technical), who appears to have moved up into the No. 2 slot on the rankings, has run 11.8 s, and the 110 m hurdles specialist, Lynette Stock (Technical), is third with 11.9 s Vicky Lewis (Old Boys)

has a best so far of 12.015, but could run faster. In championship conditions, she might well provide the strongest challenge to Peterson. The ranks of senior male sprinters are surprisingly thin this season. Only Evan Peterson (Technical), who has suffered leg injuries in recent weeks, which might limit his performance, looks capable of holding his own with a host of promising young junior sprinters. Foremost among these are Dougal Cockram (St Andrew’s College), Grant Gilbert (Old Boys), Craig Gallilee (Old Boys), Scott Bowden (New Brighton)

and Darren Dale (New Brighton). Some of these might restrict their activities to the junior event, although there seems little to be gained from this. Much the same fields could easily feature in the junior and senior finals. Gilbert is so far the only sprinter under 11s. He has a best this season of 10.95. The remainder are all running around Ils, so a tight finish can be expected. Evan Peterson, runnerup in the New Zealand triple jump last season, is unable to' compete in this event because of injury. There will still be con-

siderable interest in the ’ event, which gives Wayne . Stewart (Old Boys) an-* other chance to claim the . Canterbury record he lost - on a technicality a few” weeks ago. - In the women's javelin," Lyn Osmers the reigning New champion, will be . under ', pressure. ” She has a best of. 45.80mthis season, and* will probably need to'j throw at least that far if'she is to win the Canter-“ bury title. CatherineKnowsley (Old Boys), and; Kaye Nordstrom (Elies-» mere) are both capable of; 45m throws, and Claudia . Hall (Technical) will not; be far behind.