The Most important factor about athletics is participation. This is one sport where you can put as much or as little as you wish into it, and still enjoy it.

So if you would like to run, jump or throw, either competitively or socially, you should join the Victoria University Amateur Athletic Club.

The Club meets every Tuesday as 5.30 p.m. on the Boyd-Wilson track (down past the Gym). Here organised groups training, individual coaching and some competitive events are arranged.

The all-weather track at Evans Bay is available to the club on Thursdays after 5.30 p.m.

The club for the first time, this year in an effort to boost membership is holding twilight meetings for freshers. The first meeting held on March 4 proved to be a great success. A second meeting is to be held on this Tuesday, March 11, also at the Boyd-Wilson track.

Successful season

The 1968/69 track season so far has proved to be a highly successful one with Vic being one of the top Wellington clubs. The performances of individual club members make those of 1967/68 pale by comparison.

One of the top Club athletes has undoubtedly been Penny Haworth. The track season for Penny started well when in her first competitive run in January she recorded a time of 10.8 secs. for the 100 yds. This was sufficient to gain her a place in the New Zealand womens' team to compete with Australia for the R.H. North Cup.

Penny's performances progressively improved. At the Wellington provincial champs she won the senior women's 100, 220 and 440 yard titles. In all three wins she broke or equalled Centre records.

Another Club member who has performed well is Philip Kcar. Philip showed his promise early in the season when on the club's visit to Hastings in early December he beat the l968 New Zealand 100 yard champion, C. Daly. Later in the season he celebrated his graduation to senior ranks on his nineteenth birthday by running 48.5 secs, for the 440 yards. This was the fastest time recorded in New Zealand for the season, up till then, and also broke the Centre record.

Philip convincingly won the senior men's 440 yards title at the centre champs and was placed second in the 100 yards and 220 yards. In both the latter two runs he recorded the same time as the winner, L. D'Arcy of the Kiwi club.

Four Vic athletes, Rex Burgess, Philip Kear, John Hunt, and Dick Tweedie teamed up to take the 4 x 440 yards relay title from Kiwi in a new record time. Both teams ran faster than the centre standard in a very close race, but Vic claimed the record at 3 min. 22 secs. The time for the Kiwi team was 3mins. 23.5 secs. Vic also won the senior men and senior women's 4 x 110 yards titles. Another club athlete to win a Centre title was John Hunt in the senior mens 220 yards hurdles.

Other club athletes to gain places at the centre champs were Rosemary Askin who gained third place in the senior women's 220 yards; Barry Meyers (second in the 3000) metres steeplechase); and Chris Corry (third in the senior mens 120 yard hurdles) and Dick Tweedies (third in the senior mens 440 yards).

Although he did not gain a place, Rod Petley returned a good time of 14mins. 6.7 secs, in the three miles to come in fourth behind the international representatives, Bryan Rose, Barry Everitt and Gavin Thorley.

The following Vic athletes were selected for the Wellington team for the nationals.

Penny Haworth, John Hunt, Rod Petley and Philip Kear.

Records

Several club records have been broken this season. Penny Haworth broke the 100 yards. 220 yards and 440 yards records. Her time of 23.6 secs, for the 220 yards was a New Zealand record.

Philip Kear's time of 48.5 secs, for the 440 smashed the old record of 49.8 secs, established by Alan Osborne in 1964. His time of 21.7 secs, for the 220 also broke the record of 22.5 secs. This had been set by D. Batten in 1950 and equalled by B. Batel in 1951.

Rod Petley's time for the three miles of l4mins. 5.1 secs. broke the old record of 14 mins. 8 secs set by Euan Roberston in 1968.

Interfacs

The interfaculty track meeting is to be held this Saturday March 15 at the Evans Bay all-weather track starting at 1.30 p.m.

This meeting is a must for all student athletes. Entries should be made on the charts posted on the noticeboard in the Student Union Building, the Gymnasium or with any committee member. From this meeting the team to represent Vic at Easier Tournament in Christ-church will be selected.

Anyone requiring further information about this or any other matter should contact the club captain, Chris Corry ph. 46-788 (home, 41-473 (business); Penny Haworth ph. 759-582 or Chris Sutton ph. 863-745.

The following is the programme for Saturday March 15.

Track Events:

1.30—440 yds Hurdles champ.

1.35—3 miles champ & open

2.00—Womens 100 yds champs Womens 100 yds open

2.05—Mens 100 yds champs Mens 100 yds open

2.10—Mens 880 yds champs

2.20—1 mile track walk

2.30—220 yds Hurdles champ

2.35—3000m Steeplechase

2.50—Womens 220 yds champs Womens 220 yds open

2.55—Mens 220 yds champs Mens 220 yds open

3.00—Womens 80m Hurdles champs

Womens 80m Hurdles open

3.10—Mens 120 yds Hurdles champs

3.25—1 mile champs I mile open

3.40—Womens 440 yds champs Womens 440 yds open

3.45—Mens 440 yds champs

4.00—Womens 4x110 yds relay

4.05—Mens 4x110 yds relay

Field Events:

1.00—Pole Vault, men

1.30—Long Jump, men

1.30—High Jump, women

1.30—Shot Put, women

2.00—Discus, women

2.00—Shot Put. Men & Junior

2.30—Long Jump, women

2.30—High Jump, men

3.00—Triple Jump, Men

3.00—Hammer men.