Athletics: Mountain-man Aish hot to trot

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Runner Michael Aish emerged from a mountain hideaway yesterday in a final push for selection in the New Zealand Olympic team.

The 10,000m specialist flew into Sydney from his base in the mountains of Colorado to race at the Australian track and field trials which begin today. Thirty New Zealand athletes will compete in the three-day competition, though Aish is seen as one of a handful who have a realistic chance of last-minute inclusion in the Games team.

Aish, a New Plymouth-born fine arts student, has strode into contention in the past six months after solid training and racing with his United States college team.

Two years ago, Aish took up a scholarship at Western State College in the tiny United States town of Gunnison, which, at 8000ft above sea level, has been his very own altitude training camp.

"I live in a small town of 7000 people with nothing but dirt rounds, hills and mountains around," the 24-year-old said yesterday.

The conditions have suited him. In just one season he has sliced nearly two minutes off his 10,000m time, setting his personal best in July when he ran 28m 08s for fifth in a top-class field at the British trials.

Though that time was just outside the New Zealand qualifying standard, it impressed the selectors.

They had already noted several other performances, including several quick 5000m races and a 50th placing at the world cross-country championship in March, the best placing for a New Zealand man in almost 10 years.

Aish puts his improvement down to a commitment he made around Christmas.

"I got to the point where I was not getting anywhere and it was either do it 100 per cent or not at all," he said.

He began training three times a day, cranked up his mileage to 140 miles a week and watched his times tumble.

"I got a lot more focused, stopped partying and just ran and slept. I've had one beer in 15 months."

Athletics NZ competitions manager Tony Rogers said officials wanted Aish to put in a solid performance over 5000m this weekend, preferring that he do that and conserve himself for the 10,000m.

Discus thrower Ian Winchester will also be closely watched, with expectations that he throw 63.50m to cement his place in the team. Though the Aucklander has not matched the 64m he threw in May, he has been consistent since, including a 62.54m performance at an Oceania Grand Prix meeting in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

Long jumper Aaron Langdon, hurdler Zion Armstrong, 5000m veteran Alan Bunce and middle-distance runners Hamish Christensen and Shaun Farrell are also considered on the verge. But Rogers said the selectors would consider anyone who put in a standout effort before the team were named on Monday.

Of those who have already made the team, meanwhile, discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina and 800m runner Toni Hodgkinson have displayed good form, with Faumuina recording 64m at Tuesday's Brisbane meeting and Hodgkinson clocking 2m 00.84s at a meeting on Sunday.


ONES TO WATCH

Ian Winchester, discus: must repeat qualifying distance of 63.5m.

Michael Aish, 5000m: needs to run sub-13 min 30 sec to back up quick 10,000m times.

Hamish Christensen, 1500m: needs fast race to complete a return to form and fitness.

Shaun Farrell, 800m: should repeat or better March run of 1.46.73 in Melbourne.

Glenn Howard, high jump: wants to prove fitness with another quality jump.

Zion Armstrong, 400m hurdles: must nudge qualifying time of 49.65 sec to make-up for disappointing European campaign.

In the team already:

Beatrice Faumuina (discus); Craig Barrett (walk); Chris Donaldson (sprints); Toni Hodgkinson (800m, 1500m); Tasha Williams (hammer throw); Chantal Brunner (long jump).

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