Big Marathon Race To Be Staged In N.Z.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29898, 11 August 1962, Page 9

Big Marathon Race To Be Staged In N.Z.

X T EW ZEALAND is to hold one of the biggest international marathon races in the world when five top Japanese marathon runners are expected to compete against New Zealand Perth Empire Games marathon runners at Auckland on October 20 The athletic coach, Mr A. R. Lydiard, said in Christchurch that between 200 and 300 runners were expected to take part. Mr Lydiard said the race would be a final tune-up for Uie Perth marathon in November.

The five Japanese runners are coming to New Zealand for two months' coaching by Mr Lydiard. The coarse would cost the Japanese athletic organisations some thousands, he said. New Zealand Perth marathon nominees taking part will be B. Magee, J. Julian, and M. Halberg, of Auckland. and C. Reece, of Canterbury. These athletes have been running an aggregate of hundreds of miles a week for months past in preparation for the event.

Mr Lydiard said the Japanese were already doing his long-distance build-up programme which produced the world . recordbreaking performances of Halberg and Snell. “What I shall be doing is showing them how to relate their distance buildup programme to the sharpening-up training for competition,” said Mr Lydiard. The race will be of five laps of the Lovelock circuit in Auckland.

Thousands of spectators will watch the race, which is expected to create nation-wide and international interest.

Clubs from throughout New Zealand are entering teams for the event. Entries are also expected among distance runners who are members of the armed services, including possibly runners from the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Wigram, and Burnham military camp.

A special feature will be sections for older runners. Many of these are members

of jogging groups which Mr Lydiard is setting up in centres throughout New Zealand. Handicap sections are provided in the following age groups: 35-40, 40-45, 45-50, 50-55 and over. All will start in a mass start off the same mark, and will be handicapped on time. To be known as McCready's marathon after the firm sponsoring the event, the race might be bigger than the famous Polytechnic marathon in Britain and the Boston in America. Mi Lydiard said

According to Mr Lydiard, the Japanese national physique is suited to the marathon, and the runners taking part in Auckland are likely to be among the strongest contenders for the Olympic titles at Tokyo in 1964. Some of the Japanese runners are capable of 2hr 23min or better for the distance which is comparable to the capabilities of the New Zealand runners Some entries may come from Australia although arrangements for these are not yet complete, said Mr Lydiard