Just four wins in 88 events in their Inter-Counties' match at Warley showed Merseyside school athletes what a task they face at the All-England Schools' Championships at Yeovil next month.
But there was consolation for Wirral-based athletes and the promise of better to come. Mike Capper (Wirral A.C.) was a highly impressive winner of the senior 1500 metres and Janet McGee (Wallasey A.C.) triumphed in the intermediate 400 metres.
Their successes came in the annual Mason Trophy meeting which brings together Merseyside and seven other county teams, including those of West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. As a curtain raiser to the national finals, it provides invaluable top-class competition for the local youngsters.
Capper produced a blazing 61.5 sees, third lap and led all the way from 500 metres out to take his event by a crushing margin in three mins. 58.4 secs.
Wallasey's Janet McGee has turned to 400 metres racing this Summer because Winter illness interrupted her training preparation for 800 metres at which she has already represented Merseyside in past All-England Championship.
In successive races she has run, 59.5 secs. 59.2, 59.02 and 59.3 and now looks ready to improve yet further. She has already been
selected at the event for the Great Britain team in the European Catholic Schools' Championships in Vienna.
Two other local athletes achieved the all-important qualifying standards for Yeovil and must now be hoping that they will be in the Merseyside team to be announced this week. Dan Bintley (Wirral A.C.) reduced his 2000 metres steeplechase best to six mins 13.3 secs in finishing third, while Francesca Phillips (Wallasey A.C.) also, placed third in the intermediate 400 metres hurdles in 67.4 secs in only her fourth attempt at the event. Both the Wallasey girls are coached by Doug Hanna.
Ian Mcleod equalled the qualifying standard of 11.3secs for fourth place at 100metres, but intermediate Suzanne Rice and senior
Jane Hanna both fell short of the tough qualifying times in their respective 800metres races.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 27/06/1981
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