Kit Randell's strength and experience keeps Southland athletics hopes alive for tournament in 1972.

Southland athletes were looking forward to their competition against Otago and Canterbury in 1972.  The week before the challenge they took to a final work out.

Kit Randell had to work hard to starve off a great challenge from Brian Cockeram in the men's 1500 m.  Randell used his strength and experience to win in 4.7.5 min but Cookerman wsa fitter than he had ever been and would be a threat for the triangular tournament.
Lawrie Rewcastle and Danny O'Sullivan were the only challengers in the 5000 m race.  O'Sullivan even lapped  the other competitors.  Rewcastle won the 6 mile race from Winton's Bruce Patton and Keith Charston in 32 minutes.
Mel McKenna the Southland sprint champion clocked 11.6 sec for the 100 m.
Brian Senior was again in form, winning the discus 108ft 6.5 in.
Gary Bennett of the Gore club dominated the junior men, winning; the 100m, (11.6), high jump (5ft 4in), and was second to Wayne Belesky in the long jump.
Fiona Shaw of Winton and Jane Turnbull of Invercargill were the best in the junior women.  The former won the 200 m ahead of Helen Wilson and Jane Turnbull in 29.2sec and the 100m in 13.7sec.
Helen Wilson had made a mark since her arrival earlier in the season.  In the under 15 girls she won the 100 m in 13.8 sec and the 80 m sprint.
Some of the other athletes competing were:
I.L. Walker, R. McIntosh, F. Norman, K. Knaston, K. Rankin, G. Rodgers, G. Annear, R. Johnston, W. Belesky, C. Maltby, T. Dickson, J. Nesman, Glenys Todd, C. Ferry, G. Bellen, J. Nesman, G. Corcoran, D. Innis, W. Whelan, W. Maere, Paul Annear, P. Marshall, N. Wyeth, I. Sherbourne, 

Reference:   Final Workout For Athletes.  The Southland Times.  December 1972