N.Z. RUNNERS “NO HOPE” IN MEXICO

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30737, 29 April 1965, Page 21

N.Z. RUNNERS “NO HOPE” IN MEXICO

f.V.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PERTH, April 28. New Zealand and Australian runners of a mile or more will not win races at the next Olympic Games, said New Zealand’s threemile champion, N. I. Scott, of Auckland, today.

Scott was speaking to reporters at Perth airport when he passed through on his way home from a tour of South Africa.

He said: “Australians, New Zealanders and many other nationalities won’t have a show in long distance events at Mexico City.

“I won’t even bother to go."

Scott made this decision after competing in the South African three-mile championship in Johannesburg. After winning the race in the comparatively slow time of 14min 7sec (his personal best was 13min 16sec in New Zealand last year), he lost consciousness and was taken to hospital suffering from lack of oxygen “I was semi-conscious for the last three laps,” he said. “My manager thought 1 was dead when I passed out.” He attributed his collapse to the atmospheric conditions in Johannesburg —6000 ft above sea level—and pointed out that Mexico City was 1500 ft higher. Athletes who had not been acclimatised over a long period to such rarified air would have similar experiences, Scott said.

TEH OF the world's top plavers. headed by K. Bosewall, P. Gonbales and R. Laver, are competing in the United States professional tennis championships. Rosewall is seeded first, Laver second and Gonzales third.