Games Marathon Is Baillie’s First Target

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30886, 20 October 1965, Page 23

Games Marathon Is Baillie’s First Target

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON. The Olympic athlete, W. D. Baillie, is a man with a mission.

When he runs in the Owairaka international marathon at Auckland on December 4, Baillie, the world 25,000 metres and one hour

record-holder, hopes to qualify for the Empire Games marathon in Jamaica next August.

In the Owairaka event, Baillie will meet the Tokyo Olympic 10,000 metres gold medallist, W. Mills (United States). Baillie said yesterday that the Owairaka marathon would

, be the only one he will run i during the coming track seaI son. 1 “I am definitely not entering either the Auckland or : New Zealand marathons,” he I said. “I just hope I can record

about 2hr 18min in the Owairaka event to win selection for Jamaica.”

But, said Baillie, he only wanted to run in the Empire Games marathon as the fourth string New Zealand representative.

“I don’t want to jeopardise any other athletes chances. I think the first three in the national event should go to Jamaica if their times are good enough. “I hope to be given the opportunity to travel as the fourth man.”

He emphasised the six miles would still be his main event for Jamaica. For the last two months, Baillie has been doing mara-thon-type training for the Owairaka event.

my long distance preparation for the season. I am now running just over 100 miles a week, but after Owairaka,’! will train for the six-mile race,’’ he said. The “iron • man” of New Zealand athletics, Baillie has run nine marathons in his career. His last was in 19621 when he ran 2hr 22min. He is confident of clocking about 2hr 17 or 18min in the Owairaka event, because he feels his times over 10 and 15 miles have proved he is as strong as he ever was. “If Puckett, Julian and Keats can do it, so can I,” he said. | To date, Baillie has a fastest marathon time of 2hr 20min, 30sec, recorded in a special; trial to select a two-man team I for Athens in 1960.

“This marathon will finish