American, Schul, Wins 5000 m In Second Track Upset

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30575, 19 October 1964, Page 16

American, Schul, Wins 5000 m In Second Track Upset

(Special Correspondent ILZ.P.A.) TOKYO, October 18. The American distance runner, Bob Schul, brought off the second major surprise of the 1964 Olympic Games track events today when he won the final of the 5000 metres. Schul, given little chance of playing a prominent part in the race, finished brilliantly to overwhelm the colourful French runner Michel Jazy.

Jazy, who withdrew from the 1500 metres to concentrate on winning the gold medal in the 5000 metres, looked as if he could achieve his goal until the final straight. But when Schul put on the pressure the Frenchman cracked. He was passed in the final desperate sprint by Harald Norpoth (Germany) and Bill Dellinger (United States), who took the silver and bronze medals. Jazy was fourth.

Schul and Norpoth clocked the same time of 13min 48.8 sec, and Dellinger and Jazy were both given 13min 49.8 sec.

New Zealand’s sole finalist, W. D. Baillie, was sixth in 13min 51sec, just behind the Kenyan champion, Kipchoge Keino.

Another unfancied American, Marine Lieutenant Bill Mills, had caused the Games first major upset when he won the 10,000 metres last Wednesday. Wet And Cold The race was run in heavy rain and in a cold gusty wind. For the first four laps the leading bunch comprised Ron Clarke (Australia), who was third in the 10,000 metres, Jazy, Baillie and Norpoth. These four stayed in front of the field and were still in the lead at the 3000 metres mark. Schul, who had been running near the tail of the field, moved up to sixth place at this stage.

The Russian runner, Nikolayev Dutov, went with Schul to join the front bunch. Clarke’s Tactics Clarke tried to spread out the field at this stage and succeeded to some extent by sprinting 200 metres and then easing off for the next 200. However, Jazy kept close on Clarke’s tail, sprinted when the Australian sprinted and rested when Clarke rested. Baillie kept close behind Norpoth, within six yards of the leaders. With 600 metres to go, Schul moved rapidly through the field and passed Jazy, Norpoth, Clarke, Dutov and Baillie, to take the lead, but at the start of the final lap Jazy was once more at the head of the field. Fast Finish Jazy, who has an extremely fast finish, tried then to set a winning pace but he was unable to shake off Norpoth, Schul, Dellinger and Baillie.

The Frenchman led into the straight but then Schul, with a terrific burst, passed Jazy and, with 50 yards to go, the race was as good as won. Baillie, who had run an ex-

cellent tactical race throughout, did not have a good enough finish and lost some ground in the run to the line. Clarke faded badly over the last 200 metres and finished ninth, seven seconds behind Baillie. This was the fourth time that Clarke had tried to win the race from the front position.