RACE AT 5500FT MADE BAILLIE SICK

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 18

RACE AT 5500FT MADE BAILLIE SICK

(N Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 16. “I was sick. I couldn’t breathe. My head ached, 1 slowed almost to a walk. Finally, they had to help me off the track.” This was the description given today by W. D. Baillie of his recent race at an altitude of 5500 feet in New Mexico. Baillie returned to Auckland convinced that New Zealand’s distance running team for the 1968 Olympic Games at Mexico City must be given considerable time for acclim-

atisation to high altitude running.

“I was in Albuquerque (New Mexico) for three days before my race there,” said Baillie, “and I felt awful.

“In the race I got slower and slower over the last lap. I just lay on the track at the finish and they had to help me into the ambulance room.

“George Young and another local runner who were used to the altitude swept past me with a lap to go and romped home.

“I am sure,” said Baillie, “that our team in 1968 must get acclimatised somewhere, perhaps in Albuquerque or at Santa Fe, which is 7000 ft up. “Then you run into the problem of illegal training camps. But something has got to be done.” Baillie raced five times in the United States and Canada for three wins and two defeats by Young. P. G. Snell, who also returned yesterday, raced once in Los Angeles for a fine win over the Canadian, W. Crothers. J. L. Davies ran the mile four times for. three wins and a second. He won at Albuquerque in his slowest time of his tour, and while he was not affected as much as Baillie, was exhausted at the end of his run.

Davies is now spending a few days in Honolulu.