Runs Hard At Drop Of Hanky

N. Coventry, the 22-year-old Auckland athlete who is the sole New Zealand representative going to the Deaf Olympics being held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in August, was born in the heart of the King Country.

From Te Kuiti, Coventry was educated at the Titirangi School for the Deaf, the Glen Eden Intermediate School and Kelston Boys’ High School.

Almost eight years ago he began athletics with the Lynndale club, taking part in sprints, 440 yds, 880 yds and mile races.

Club officials would drop a handkerchief for him to sight as a sign that the starting gun had been fired.

Coventry had been nominated for the 5000 metres, 10,000 metres and Deaf marathon, of 15 miles, and he has recorded some very creditable times over these distances.

His best mile time of 4m 15s is very good. Over 5000 metres he has recorded 15m 1.4s and for 10,000 metres he has run 32m 18s. His best official time for a 15-mile road race is 1h 28m.

Coventry owes his inclusion in the Olympic team to efforts by the New Zealand Amateur Deaf Sports Association and the public of Auckland.

Funds raised by a 24-hour marathon run on the Alexandra Park Raceway in April, 1968, will help toward the cost of sending Coventry and his manager, Mr M. Ward, of Christchurch, to Yugoslavia, although more finance is still required.

Mr Ward himself was formerly a representative Canterbury athlete and is deaf.