Speedy first five worth tempting

SPEED MERCHANT: Former Athletics coach Alec McNab would love to lure speeding NZ Heartland rugby first five Stephen Perofeta back to track and field to bolster medal-winning prospects. PHOTO/FILE

HOPEFULLY there will be considerable interest in the performance of the Wanganui players in the Heartland XV play against the Australian Barbarians at Cooks Gardens tomorrow. The players are worthy of great local support.

I will be especially interested in the performance of Stephen Perofeta, who back in April not only finished fifth in the North Island Schools 100 metres, but also ran in the winning 4x100 metre relay team speed that has proved valuable on the rugby field. Perhaps there is a lesson there for others.

I would love to lure Perofeta back to strengthen a strong 4x100m combination at NZSS perhaps turning potential finalists into medal winners,

There is a further athletic interest during halftime at Cooks Gardens tomorrow when New Zealand Schools Cross-country Internationals Jane Lennox and Christian Conder will run against another five athletes in a handicap race as part of their fundraising for the ISF World Schools in Hungary next April.

The halftime handicap race is over the 2000 metre Opera House circuit starting at the 100 metre start under the bell tower on the track. They will run 300 metres on the track exiting the Stadium by Sport Wanganui to circumnavigate the Opera House block returning to the stadium at the same place less than five minutes later to finish under the Peter Snell statue. If the handicapping has been done well by yours truly the runners will all be on the track as they race for the finish just before the second half starts.

Donations at the ground for our two schools' internationals will be gratefully accepted.

Spring weather is notoriously fickle and after a glorious almost still day at the second regional meeting in Palmerston North on Saturday, athletes on Tuesday at Cooks Gardens at the weekly Club Night athletes had to battle cold head winds.

Such conditions affect performances and as major championships approach it is important that athletes value the workout more than the actual performance.

On Saturday, Sophie Redmayne won the 70 metre hurdles very narrowly, after judges referred to the photo finish image, from training partner Kate Tylee (both ran 12.76 ).

On Tuesday, Redmayne fell heavily in the repeat race over 70 metres.

She bravely picked herself back and won the hand timed run over 80 metre hurdles (using the tail wind on the back straight) five minutes later to win over her close rival in their first effort over the longer distance.

Sprinters not unexpectedly were unhappy having to battle against the wind on Tuesday. Harry Symes continued his good run of form, winning the 200 metres from relay partner Sam Merson (they combined later to win the 2 x 100 metres). Connor McErlich and Tom Matthews, who are both looking for relay spots in the Collegiate team, should be pleased with their 24.56 and 24.87 respective personal bests.

On Saturday the in-form Grace Godfrey ran under 60 seconds for the first time, stopping the clock at an impressive 59.46 seconds to record a Collegiate Junior Record while still in Year 10.

On Tuesday, as an exercise in leg speed she ran in a hand timed 200 metres finishing on the back straight, utilising the strong wind. She finished behind middle distance boys Luke Gemmell and Christian Conder with a pleasing 26.4 second confidence lifting performance.

On Saturday, the 800 metres produced the most changes in rankings. Christian Conder went to the top of our rankings with a 2:02.16 effort and will probably regret the slow opening 500 metres. Charlie Waddy made another move up the rankings, recording a 2 minute 4 effort while Oliver O'Leary ran a ten second best (2:05.68 ) over the two lap race, recording an impressive 2 minutes that might convince him that he is stronger over two laps than in the one lap 400 metres.

Lisa Lin jumped well to gain two personal bests in Long and Triple Jump, while Roimata Hipango jumped 10.88 in the triple for third place with a hint that big performances are very close. In the boys event Yeero Cahavaraha jumped over 11 metres for the first time and has won inclusion in the Collegiate team to NZSS.

I do hope that both the Heartland Team and the group of Road Runners get good support on Friday evening.

The match starts at 6pm.