Athletics: Qualifying mark edges closer for Winchester

By MURRAY McKINNON

Ian Winchester edged closer to qualifying for selection for the Sydney Olympic Games at the weekend with his best discus result this season, throwing 61.80m at Mt Smart.

Under the eye of coach Les Mills, Winchester was over a metre better than his Hamilton throw in early December and just 1.70m short of games selection.

The throw, coming a week out from the New Zealand championships in Christchurch, was all the more encouraging as there was little wind to help his flighting.

"Things are just coming together for me," said Winchester. "I've had two weeks of good training.

"I was set back in January with the flu, so we have decided to extend the season to take in two meetings in the States in April and May."

Winchester, who holds the New Zealand record with 63.74m, said he was delighted to win the Australian championship last week but not happy with the distance of 58.66m.

"I will be looking to 62m plus in Christchurch with a games-qualifier a bonus."

Brent Booker cleared 14m for the first time in the triple jump with 14.08m, while Nicola Morris, Nicola Kidd, Willow Sainsbury and Simon Potter all improved on their sprint times for this season.

Kidd has increased her speed for the 400m hurdles by running a career best 200m of 24.94s. She will be aiming for her third national hurdles title next weekend.

At the Auckland junior championships, 14-year-old Louise Jones moved up to number six on this season's New Zealand rankings, with a record-breaking 400m run of 56.33s.

Elizabeth Orchard also entered the national 800m rankings, winning the grade 14 event in 2m 16.09s.

Meanwhile, at the Sylvia Potts Memorial meeting in Hastings, David Falealili of Wellington also showed the sport is flourishing in the junior ranks, becoming the 11th athlete to qualify for the world junior championships with a 100m run in 10.68s.

Others to excel at Hastings were Shaka Sola, ranked number two behind Winchester in the discus, who improved to 54.52m. Michael O'Connor ran a 21.58s 200m, Demelza Murrihy a 2m 9.82s 800m and Craig Barrett recorded a 12m 4.82s 3km walk. Glenn Howard went over the high jump at 2.20m.