At Stretford, July 5th
In the absence of Christine Perera of the promoting Stretford AC, who was on international duty, Susan Hayward took the 200m hurdles in the handy time of 28.5, just holding off Lorraine Robinson. Meanwhile in the junior pentathlon, Nenna Njoku established a lead by shattering Blondelle Thompson's UK Junior 80y hurdles record by no less than 0.2 against a slight wind. Her time was a fabulous 11.0! Whilst the pentathletes worked through their events, several "open" events came into the limelight - Dorothy Hyman's tremendous 11.5 in the 100m, four-tenths ahead of Sheila Cooper, meriting particular attention. Then in the WAAA 3000m, 26-year-old Ann O'Brien proceeded to shatter the record book (and the field) with a great run of 9:47.6, a UK All Comers and Irish National best performance. Behind this world class performance (only Pigni has run faster), Wallasey's Barbara Banks came home in 9:54.4 to smash Rita Ridley's UK National best, Ann only just made it, as her kit had gone astray on the trip from Dublin, and only arrived 15 minutes before the start!
The finish of the meeting's highlights? Not by a long way. Whilst Janis Murray was putting the finishing touches to winning the intermediate pentathlon her Stretford club-mates were placed one and two in the junior allair. Nenna Njoku won the event and in the process took another record: Sue Scott's 14-year-old age best. Congratulations to Stretford AC on a well organised and pleasant meeting, made more enjoyable by the fact that no entrance fee was charged at the gate. How do they do it?
3000m: 1, A. O'Brien (Clonliffe) 9:47.6; 2, B. Banks (Wallasey) 9:54.4; 3, M. Ibbotson (Longwood) 10:10.8; 4. S. Camagie (Pres) 10:13.8; 5, B. Cook (W'ton) 10:22.4; 6, S. Arnold (Birch) 10:53.2.
Ends
Source - Athletics Weekly - Saturday, 19/07/1969 by RC
Ref 2976