Athletics: Teenager wins well-judged 800m

By Murray McKinnon

Demelza Murrihy, of Taumarunui, made it three wins out of three in the Athletics Super Provincial competition yesterday, further improving on her 800m time at Sovereign Stadium on Auckland's North Shore.

The 14-year-old running sensation came from the back of the field after the first lap to hit the lead at the bell and carry on to record 2m 08.07s.

Murrihy ran the perfect race, following the instructions of her coach and father, John, to the letter with a 65.6s first lap and kicking in with a 62.5s final 400m.

Rachel Rowberry, of Counties, was second in 2m 12.72s with Marissa Stephen, of Southern, third.

"I enjoyed that race," Murrihy said. "I have now cut three seconds off my time within a week."

It has been a hectic week for Murrihy as she helped her mother with the delivery of sister number five on Friday before carrying on to Porritt Stadium in Hamilton where she won the 1500m. There is now eight children in the family, six daughters and two sons.

Murrihy has her sights set on running 2m 7s for 800m and a sub-4m 20s 1500m in the upcoming Robin Tait meetings.
Murrihy's effort helped her Counties Waikato team to victory in the inaugural Super Provincial series, scoring 749 points, 18 better than Northern Heat, with Southern Unity third and Central Raiders fourth.

Dean Sheddan, of Southern, had the final say in the men's 800m, holding out Phil Spratley and Jason Stewart in a blanket finish. Raced in heavy rain, Sheddan came through in 1m 51.65s.

Sheddan, runner-up in last season's national championship, was 0.11s ahead of Spratley. Stewart, the national secondary schools champion, ran 1m 51.95s.

Sheddan later also dominated the 400m relay with a superb final lap for his Southern Unity team.

Nick Cowan had the lead for Northern, but Sheddan showed his superior speed to pip Cowan on the line, running 46.06s to Cowan's 46.14s.

Jane Arnott, of Northern, was named the most valuable athlete of the meeting after making a clean sweep for the women over the three meetings with Shelley Avery and Joanne Henry.

Arnott won the sprint double, with times of 11.97s over 100m and 23.70s in the 200m, both raced into a slight headwind.

Gus Nketia scored a confidence booster in the 100m, beating Donald MacDonald in 10.67s, while Callum Stuart set a personal best in the 400m hurdles with 50.97s.

"I was surprised with the time. It was wet out there and I hit seven of the hurdles. I was slipping on each landing," said Stuart.

Anne Judkins improved by 10s on her time on Friday in Hamilton in the 3000m walk, although Jenny Jones-Billington gave Judkins a fright in the finishing straight as she came alongside. But Judkins dug in to win in 13m 27.15s.

Nicola Kidd was one second shy of setting a national record in the 400m hurdles. She had competed in an interprovincial touch competition on Saturday and came into the race, she said, "shattered."

Kidd ran 58.14s and later went on to record an unofficial split of 53.9s in the 400m relay.

Ian Winchester was a big points-scorer for Counties with a double in the field events, throwing 57.45m in the discus and heaving the shot out to 16.04m, while Diggory Brooke improved on his Wellington throw in the javelin with 74.52m.

Caption: Demelza Murrihy, of Counties Waikato, won the 800m by more than 4s. The 14-year-old improved her time by 3s in the last week.HERALD PICTURE / BRETT PHIBBS