Athletics: Runner targets 10,000m mark

It is 25 years since Dick Quax ran the last sub-28 minute 10,000m in New Zealand.

The only other time was Dick Tayler's famous 1974 Commonwealth Games win in 27m 46s.

But Wellington runner John Henwood believes he can crack the mark, and he hopes to do it in the national men's 10,000m championship in Inglewood today.

Doing so would qualify Henwood for the world athletic championships in Edmonton, Canada, in August.

As an entree he competed over 5000m at the Melbourne Grand Prix last week, finishing third behind two Kenyans in 13m 30s.

Henwood's previous 10,000m experience on the track is limited to just one serious race, a third in Melbourne's Zatopek Classic last year in 28m 40s.

"I had an interrupted preparation for that and I'm fitter and in better form now," Henwood said yesterday.

"I want to run a great 10km and show everyone there's no reason why we can't run really fast times over distances in New Zealand."

His toughest opposition is likely to be Wellington's world mountain-running champion Jonathan Wyatt. Others rated are Aucklanders Robbie Johnston and Alan Bunce, and Wellington's Craig Kirkwood, a relative unknown.

Bunce recently outsprinted Wyatt to win the New Zealand 3000m title, but Wyatt will be better suited to the longer distance.

Wellington's Melissa Moon, the national 5000m champion, should be too strong in the women's event.

- NZPA