Athletics: Drama aplenty in college road races

Officials took the unusual step of awarding two gold medals in the senior girls road race after a mix-up at the national college games in Hamilton yesterday.

Clare Goodwin, a 15-year-old from Temuka High School, mistook the race for the junior event.

But she nevertheless left the senior field trailing in her wake to win the 4000m race in 15m 08s, four seconds faster than second-placed Leonora Joy, of Kaipara College.

Goodwin's mark was also 90s faster than the winning time in her own age group, where Bridget Hill, of New Plymouth, was thrilled about the error.

Joy protested that Goodwin should never have been in the race, reducing Goodwin to tears outside race headquarters.

However, officials decided it was a genuine error - the order of the races had been changed from the programme - and Goodwin would also receive a gold medal but Joy would hold the title.

Graeme Stone's win in the 6000m senior boys road race was clear-cut enough - by 9s over Hayden Prosser of Wellington College - but the junior boys race was also packed with drama.

Fraser High School fourth-former Kevin Fly - at his first big athletics meet - led the 112-strong field into the stadium by 10 metres. But 70 metres from home he turned to check on the field and fell on a cone. He regained his feet, but was pipped for third on the line.

The school track and field championships are part of the inaugural college games.

- NZPA