PREPARING FOR MEXICO

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 15

PREPARING FOR MEXICO

f.Vcw Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

Soviet runners were spending periods in two camps high above sea level preparing for the Mexico Olympics, the chief Russian distance coach, Mr Vladimir Kuts, said in Auckland today.

Mr Kuts, winner of the 5000 metres and 10.000 metres at the Melbourne Olympics, arrived as manager with the Russian athletics team of five for a Rothmans tour.

He said camps had been established in the Caucasus mountains and also in Kazakhstan, more than 7000 ft above sea level. The Mexico altitude was 7400 ft.

“We send up runners of good potential every so often,” said Mr Kuts. “and they train

for several weeks. Sprinters and field event athletes also go, but not for as long as the middle-distance and distance runners.”

“Cyclists and many other sportsmen also attend the camps,” said Mr Kuts.

Just before the Olympics athletes would visit the camps for last-minute acclimatisation and would go to Mexico earlier than they had to Rome and Tokyo. The Russian team, which includes the world recordbreaking sisters. Tamara and Irena Press, left Moscow on Christmas Day.

Male members of the team are Oleg Raiko, aged 20 (1500 metres), Vikto Kudinskiy, aged 22 (3000 metres steeplechase), Leonid Ivanov, aged 28 ( 5000 and 10,000 metres). Tamara Press holds the women's shot and discus world records and her sister Irena is the world pentathlon and 80 metres hurdles record holder.

The athletes stayed at Papatoetoe tonight and will leave for Tokoroa tomorrow morning where they will train for six days. The tour will begin at Rotorua on January 5.