Athletics: Yesterday's stars fail to inspire great feats

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Stars aplenty were in evidence at the New Zealand championships at the weekend.

Sadly they hailed from years gone by, but were happy to be on hand to present medals to this year's champions.

In a popular move, heroes of days gone by including Sir Murray Halberg, John Walker, Roger Te Puni, Ross Pownall, Dave Norris, Les Mills, Dianne Rodger, Mike Ryan, Kirsten Hellier, Jayne Kiely and Neville Scott played their part in promoting the championships.

But often the recipients of the medals they handed out had not matched their performances.

No athlete managed a Commonwealth Games qualifying mark, only surprise senior 100m winner James Dolphin managed a world junior qualifying performance, and only Valerie Adams, in winning the under-18 shot put, achieved a championship record.

But any disappointment in the failure to reach qualifying times and distances was compensated for by the stirring battles only a championship can bring.

The men's 1500m was a classic example.

Walker earlier bemoaned the continuing fall-off of middle-distance times by saying: "There are no shortcuts, our athletes have to get out and be prepared to do the hard work."

But he was encouraged yesterday by Ben Ruthe's victory.

"This is what a championship should be," Walker said.

A classic battle of strength provided by John Henwood, Jonathon Wyatt and Paul Hamblyn against the speed of Ruthe and Clyde McIntosh produced a memorable contest. The lead changed three or four times before producing a 3m 48.20s victory for Ruthe, who held off McIntosh with Henwood a close third.

Henwood and Wyatt will step up to 5000m at a grand prix meeting in Melbourne on Thursday to chase a qualifier at that distance.

They will be accompanied by a clutch of athletes, including high jumper Glenn Howard, who was unable to get anywhere near his heroic effort of two years ago when he leaped from nowhere to the Sydney Olympics.

Sidelined by an ankle injury for a month, Howard cleared 2.16m - well short of the 2.24m he needs to qualify for Manchester and even further away from his 2000 jump of 2.30m.

Beatrice Faumuina had the rare disappointment of having a fine discus throw ruled out because of a foot fault.

"That hasn't happened before," said Faumuina, after unleashing what she estimates was close to 65m with her last throw. Her 63.09m winner was still 8.98m clear of Adams.

Chantal Brunner confirmed her good form with a slightly wind-assisted 6.51m long jump, while Shelley Avery also had some wind assistance in her personal-best 13.43m in the triple jump.

"That shows me I can do it [the Games 13.55m standard]," said Avery after beating Frith Maunder, who also jumped a personal best.

Jane Arnott held off Rebecca Wardell over 400m, though her time of 52.40s was outside the Manchester mark of 52.30s. The gold and silver medal winners will try again in Melbourne.

Caro Hunt completed the 100m-200m double but was outside the targets. She, too, will line up again on Thursday.

Her 23.60s in the 200m was her best of the season, but outside her 23.20s target. In the 100m Hunt also ran a season-best 11.62s, but needs 11.40s. Andrea Miller, who won the 100m hurdles, was second to Hunt over 100m, with Tasha Williams, who won the hammer, third.

Kimberley Smith, impressive in winning the 5000m on Friday night, completed a good double by taking the 1500m yesterday.

Dolphin surprised himself and his opponents in winning the 100m in a personal-best 10.65s - the same as second-placed Donald MacDonald. The time was well under the 10.74s Dolphin needed for a trip to the junior world championships.

Jason Stewart continued an amazing run over 800m by taking the senior title. His 1m 52.21s victory over Gareth Hyett (1m 52.34s) followed three wins over the same distance at under-18 and two at under-20 in the last five seasons.

Liam Whaley collected his fourth 110m hurdles title - and was handed his medal by Pownall, who won the same event 12 times.

Hammer thrower Phil Jensen had one of the hard-luck stories of the championships. He was credited with a 69.46m throw in the first round - over the 68.50m qualifier - only to be told there was a fault with the electronic measuring equipment, which was 3m out.

He eventually took the title at 65.65m, but his longest throw was later re-measured at about 66m.

Craig Barrett continued his Games build-up with a solid win in the 20km road walk.