Athletics: Athlete finds life after rugby

By MURRAY McKINNON

Andy Henley made a successful return to athletics, after a spell with rugby, to win the North Island decathlon championship at Sovereign Stadium on the North Shore yesterday.

In his first senior competition, the 20-year-old scored 5394 points, 587 better than second-placed Jason Stevens from Adelaide.

Henley won the 1995 New Zealand under-18 decathlon title in Wellington at the age of just 15, but rugby took his interest over the following years.

"I had a head injury from rugby, and had to have a spell for a year," he said. "So it is back to athletics for the moment."

The Bays Cougars athlete had solid performances throughout the two days and 10 events. He started with a sharp 11.22s 100m, was out to 6.32m in the long jump and finished the first day with a 51.15s 400m.

His top events yesterday were a 53.66m javelin and a 4m 31.27s 1500m.

"I was not happy with my 3m pole vault, but everything else was solid."

Henley will work on his weaknesses and take part in the New Zealand and Australian championships.

Douglas Pirini, training towards the Sydney Olympic Games standard of 8100 points, withdrew after the pole vault with tight calf muscles, while his partner, Joanne Henry, also did not complete her heptathlon.

Australia's Clare Thompson won the women's heptathlon.

The 21-year-old from Canberra scored 5556, well short of the 6000 she wanted for selection to the Sydney Olympics.

Megan Rentsch from Adelaide was second with 4571 points.

Jane Arnott, the national 200m and 400m champion, won the open 100m in 12.18s and followed up with a 24.68s victory over 200m.

Ben Potter also captured the sprint double, coming through the 200m in 22.14s.

In Hamilton yesterday, Robbie Johnston won the annual round the bridges 10km road race in a smart 30m 22s, 27s ahead of late entrant Carston Jorgensen of Denmark.

Maree Bunce, third in the recent world mountain running championship, was the first woman home in 36m 11s, just over a minute in front of Natalie Karl.