Erika Wolf on her way to a win in the women's aged 45-49
shot put. Photo by Jane Dawber.
The shoes made the difference and helped Dunedin's Erika
Wolf win the discus and shot put double at the Caledonian
Ground yesterday.
Wolf (48) won the women's aged 45 to 49 discus with a throw
of 21.44m from Vicki Evans (Pleasant Point) 21.29m.
She won the shot put with a throw of 9.14m. Evans was second
with a put of 5.90m.
Wolf, a lecturer in history and art history at the University
of Otago, grew up in New York and has lived in Dunedin since
2007.
Her brother is Augi Wolfe, who represented the United States
at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and came fourth in the
shot put.
When he heard his sister was training for the Masters Games
he sent her a pair of the latest style of throwing shoes and
she used them in the competition.
Wolf, who also won gold medals in the two throwing events at
the 2010 Games in Dunedin, had not competed in athletics
since junior high school before coming to New Zealand.
"I'm reliving my childhood," she said. "The last time I
competed in the States was in 1977."
She will have a busy Games and will also compete in swimming,
football and basketball.
Wolf has entered into New Zealand life since settling in
Dunedin and referees and coaches rugby.
The men's aged 70 to 74 shot put and discus were dominated by
Australians who filled the top three placings.
Doug Magin was first with 8.77m and was followed by Bryan
Thomas with 7.41m and Bruce Wiggins with 6.81m in the shot
put.
Magin also won the discus with 23.94m from Wiggins with
19.66m and Thomas with 17.31m.
Wiggins (71), a retired veterinary surgeon, lives in the
small village of Jaspers Bush in New South Wales. It has a
population of only 14 people.
It hit the national headlines yesterday when a helicopter
crashed near Wiggins' home.
"Very few people had heard about us but they all know us
now," Wiggins said.
It was a successful championship for visitors from India with
Mumbai lawyer Rohinton Mehta winning five gold medals in the
men's aged 50 to 54 grade.
He won the 100m (14.08sec), 200m (29.69sec), 400m (61.02sec),
long jump (3.60m) and high jump (1.25m).
His countryman, Ashok Kumar, won the men's aged 55 to 59 shot
put (8.41m) and was runner-up in the discus (16.41m) and long
jump (3.10m).
Former New Zealand cross-country representative Daniel
O'Connell (Wellington) returned to his old home town to win
the men's aged 60 to 64 400m (1min 12.48sec), 1500m (5min
23.23sec) and was second in the 800m (2min 44.68sec).
Peter Crawford (Katikati) won the men's aged 65-69 shot put
(10.95m) and discus (32.68m).
Invercargill's Charlie Collett (82) won the men's aged 80 to
84 400m (2min 03sec) and 800m (5min 37.29sec) double. His
son, Charlie Collett jun (57), was fourth in both the 800m
and 1500m in the men's aged 55 to 59 grade.
Both titles were won by Geoff Anderson (Dunedin) with an 800m
of 2min 24.52sec and 1500m in 4min 51.44sec.
The oldest athlete competing in track and field was
Invercargill Alistair Mackay (84), who won five gold medals
in the men's aged 80 to 84 grade: 100m (17.73sec), 200m
(39.60sec), long jump (2.67m), shot put (6m), high jump
(85cm).
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.