Fine 5000 Metres Expected In Russia-Britain Match

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28362, 22 August 1957, Page 15

Fine 5000 Metres Expected In Russia-Britain Match

[Specially written tor “The Press 1 1

LONDON, August 9. rpHE international meeting beA tween Russia and Britain promises to be the greatest ever to take place in this country. It is being held on August 23 and 24 at the White City 'stadium in London. Vladimir Kuts, the Russian double gold medallist in the last Olympics, has been entered for both the 5000 and 10,000 metres, but in an interview said he would only take part in one of the races and that he would decide which it was to be when he had completed his training. He is planning to be at his peak for this match. Kuts also says that it is his “major ambition” to take the 5000 metres world record from Gordon Pirie. This is also one of Derek Ibbotson’s ambitions. Both he and Pirie have been entered for the 5000 metres, and it promises to be a very exciting race if Kuts finally decides to run against them. 1500 Metres Even with the high standard of the British milers, the 1500 metres will be a very close race, as the Russian runners, Pipine and Sokolov, finished first ahd second in the Moscow Festival of Youth Games with times of 3min 41sec and 3min 41.7 sec. which are the equivalent of a less than the fourminute mile. Ken Wood, who has already run a sub-four-minute mile this year, is at top form after his six months’ absence from athletics and has been chosen with Brian Hewson for this event. Although Hewson, who has been suffering from torn thigh muscles, may not be fit in time for the match, in which case Graham Everett, of Scotland, who was defeated by the two French milers in the first international this year against France, will take his place. A number of sprinters have been named for the match but it is probable the final three will be Dave Segal, A.A.A. champion, Ken Box and Brian Shenton, who should all be a little faster than the Russians, Tokaryev and Konovalov, on home ground. 11l the 400 metres hurdles, Rus-

sia will have the former world record holder, Lituyev, who should easily take his .event unless the rapidly-improving Farrel surprises as he did against the New York team, winning at Manchester. In the 120 yards hurdles, Hildreth, of the home team,, should have a more than even chance against Stolyarov. Russia should take the quarter-mile with Ignatyev, and Britain the half-mile with either Johnson, Farrel, or Rawson. In both the four by 100 relay and four by 400 relay, the teams should be fairly even.

In the field events, Britain will lose the match. Although the progress of Ellis, hammer; Carr, discus; Rowe, shot put; Colin Smith and Cullen, javelin, have been very satisfactory and all have this year set national records, their achievements compared with world standards are not outstanding and Russia should have little difficulty in taking all these events.

Russia’s hammer thrower is Krivonosov, a former world record holder, and Tsibulenko was third in the Olympic Games javelin, throwing more than. 20 feet more than the British record. Grigalka should win the shot by about five feet if up to his usual standard, while only in the shot should Rowe stand a chance and then only if he puts as well as he did when setting a new record of 55ft 7in in the match with New York. The high jump will go the same way, with Stepanov, the new world record holder at 7ft IJin. Pole Vault Two Russian hop, step, and jump competitors have done well in excess of 50 feet —much better than Wilmshurst, of Britain. Only in the pole vault among the field events has Britain got a really good chance now that Geoff Elliot has returned to form and has done more than 14 feet twice this year. Nor is the British women’s team as strong this year as in previous years, and Russia will probably beat it by as wide a margin as it beat the French women on August 2-3.