Marlborough mussel packer packs pace

BEN CURRAN/Manawatu Standard

WINNER: Manawatu's Ryan Smith revelled in his moment of glory after giving it all he had to win the 800m race in 2 minutes 64 seconds at the Special Olympics 2009 National Summer Games.

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If he packs mussels at the same pace he runs 10,000 metres, Dale Smit's bosses will be very happy.

At the Massey track yesterday, as the wind howled and made the going extremely tough, the 23-year-old Blenheim athlete blitzed the rest of the field and looked as though he could have done a few extra laps even after he crossed the finish line.

This was the first day of competition at the 2009 Special Olympics National Summer Games.

Starting at a blistering pace, there was no let-up from Smit as he consistently put metre after metre of distance between himself and his competition.

But even when he lapped his team-mate and the race was in the bag, it was him against the clock and it appeared he wasn't going to let the clock beat him.

It was an inspiring display.

Smit runs up to 20km a day, five days a week and competes in half-marathons with his best time over 21km being 1hr 44min.

Yesterday, the conditions were not ideal to achieve a personal best.

"Coming round that top bend it was pretty windy, it was a struggle every time I came round it," Smit said.

He's been part of Special Olympics for a few years now but he is no stranger to running.

"I've been running for years."

Smit also represented his country in 2007 when he competed in Shanghai and took the gold medal in the 10,000m and bronze in the half-marathon.

Smit's talent was discovered at Marlborough Boys' College when he started to compete and he regularly beats mainstream athletes and runs for his local harriers club.

The spirit of the games was evident when Smit lapped team-mate Simon River and received a slap on the back and a "good on yer mate" from the athlete that ultimately came second.

Smit's finishing time today was 41.38.8, with team-mate Simon Ridder coming in second with 46.44.1 and Manukau athlete Lochlan McLean third with a time of 53.34.9.

Meanwhile, Manawatu athlete Ryan Smith took out the 800m race in 2 minutes 64 seconds.

- © Fairfax NZ News