New Zealand running great Lorraine Moller (centre) meets
Otago University Students Association events manager
Vanessa Reddy (left) and assistant events manager Laura
Cole at the University Blues dinner on Saturday night.
Photo by Peter McIntosh.
It has taken 35 years but Olympic bronze medallist
Lorraine Moller finally has her Blue.
Moller, one of the greats of New Zealand running who was
third in the marathon at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, had
a pleasant surprise at the Otago University Blues on Saturday
night.
She was awarded a Blue, the symbol of scholastic sporting
achievement, in 1973 but never physically received the award.
The Otago University Students Association decided that
oversight needed to be rectified, and Moller got her Blue at
the 100th anniversary dinner of the awards on Saturday.
"She was really delighted and I think it was a big surprise,"
OUSA events manager Vanessa Reddy said yesterday.
Moller, who now lives in the United States, was presented
with the wooden plaque for her Blue by fellow guest speaker
and former All Black halfback Chris Laidlaw.
Moller's speech was the highlight of the evening, Reddy said.
"She was brilliant. We only asked her to speak for 10min and
she spoke for 45min. She's just inspirational. At the end,
there were people lining up . . . to get their photo taken
with her."
Olympic 1500m gold medallist Jack Lovelock was named the
Otago University sportsperson of the last 100 years,
following a public vote.
Lovelock was the best middle-distance runner in the world in
the 1930s and won his gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Voting had been close, with Moller and swimmers Dave Gerrard
and Danyon Loader also polling well, Reddy said.
Squash won $1000 after being named the university's best
club. Harriers and tramping were the other finalists.
Black Ferns rugby player Beth Mallard was named sportswoman
of the year, while sportsman of the year went to new All
Black Adam Thomson, who is holidaying in Fiji and was unable
to attend the awards.
The two highly commended Blues winners were Matt Fuller, who
has been New Zealand ice speed skating champion five times,
and Anna Harvey, the versatile athlete who won a gold medal
at the Down Under Games this year.
A posthumous Blue for rogaining was awarded to Leon Phease,
who was killed in a climbing accident on Mt Aspiring on July
26.
• University Blues
The winners
University of Otago sportsperson of the last 100
years: Jack Lovelock (athletics).
Club of the year: Squash.
Sportswoman of the year: Beth Mallard (rugby).
Sportsman of the year: Adam Thomson (rugby).
Blues (highly commended): Matt Fuller (speed skating), Anna
Harvey (athletics).
Blues: Lydia Cooke (hockey), Kirsty Cole (hockey),
Michael Dessoulavy (rowing), Elyse Fraser (rowing), Kate
French (rowing), Elliot Gilchrist (volleyball), Paul Grant
(rugby), Sam Hibbard (rugby), Sam Kidd (harriers), Carla
Laughton (surf life-saving), Stephanie Laughton (surf
life-saving), Carrie Lobb (rugby), Campbell Lowe (rowing),
Chris Noakes (rugby), Leon Phease (rogaining), Sabrina
Quarente (underwater hockey), Richard Sharp (rowing), Josh
Townsend (rugby), Elizabeth Travis (rowing), Catherine van
Gessel (rowing), Kate von Biel (squash), Larissa Wall
(hockey), Bridget Wright (rowing).
Contribution to sports: Sarah Baldwin (volleyball),
Sam Hutchings (alpine club), Alicia Mulligan (swimming),
Marise Stuart (netball), Bill Turnbull (volleyball),
Christian von Biel (squash), Sarah White (tramping).
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