Advice to Bedford: ‘Don’t do a Munich today’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33445, 29 January 1974, Page 32

Advice to Bedford: ‘Don’t do a Munich today’

By

DEREK IBBOTSON,

former world mile record-holder

In my estimation today is going to be the greatest for excitement and fine performances seen so far in the Games. There are six track and three field finals—something for everybody.

Before the Games started, everybody was talking about the 'sooom and the 1500 m being the best of the Games, but we all know now, after the heats and semi-finals of the 800 m. that, this is going to be the race.

It will be a world recordshattering race. For the first time in these championships there are five gold medal prospects, all with good reasons for being the favourite. Mv joint favourites must be John Kipkurgat and Mike Boit of Kenya, because these 1o n g-striding, beautifully flowing athletes are not in the least inhibited by any dull tactics.

They will go out and run, and will be beaten only by someone who can run 1:43.7 or better—the world record held by Marcello Fiascanora, of Italy.

Front runner There is also Filbert Bayi of Tanzania, the ace front runner of them all. In his 1500 m races he usually goes through the first 800 in about 1:51, so he will not be wanting to hang about

We come now to two runners who have to make big decisions. First, Andy Carter of England, a top-rated Games athlete with 1:45.1, sixth in the final at Munich, half a second behind the bronze medallist, Boit. Carter was a great winner of the Europa Cup (800 metres) last. year, beating the Munich silver medallist, Yeugeniy Arzhanov, of Russia. He is essentially a runner who prefers a fast pace and he is capable of setting it. if no-one else will. But he proved in the Europa that even after a fast pace he • has a devastating finish.

Then there is John Walker of New Zealand who over the last year has shot into world class, and looks a tremendous bet for the Mon-

treal Olympic Games in 1976. He lacks the international experience of the others,' but luckily he will not have to worry about tactics in this race.

Carter and Walker must, make sure that when the runners break from the lanes at 300 metres they are right up with the three African leaders. They cannot afford to leave any gap and hope to close it down the back straight or in the finishing straight, because Boit and Kipkurgat will not be slowing down. I am sure we will see a blanket finish, all the way up the final with

Kipkurgat and Boil just holding off .Carter and Walker, with Bayi lacking the over-all speed of the others. The 5000 metres final, to be held straight afterwards, is a race in which we will see four of the top British athletes against the top three Kenyans—Ben Jipclio, Paul Mose and Joshua Kimeto. 1 would like to give David Bedford some advice for this race:

Advice to Bedford “Do not run in the final if your mental approach is to be as it was in the 5000 metres final in Munich, when you would have been better off at home watching television.

“You have to go out today to take this race by the scruff of the neck, act positively and dominate the other athletes. Even if you fail again, I for one will admire you, and it will be one way of making sure that Ben Jipcho does not ha’’e another easy gold medal as in the .3000 metres steeplechase.”

Jipcho will be the favourite, but only slightly ahead of Brendan ” Foster of England, fifth in the Munich 1500 metres and a top-rated Games 5000 metres athlete now that Dick Quax is a non-starter.

We saw a glimpse of Foster’s confidence in his 5000 metres heat, when he just strolled away from the others, but had the impudence to gallop along up the straight, He will be backed by Bedford and lan Stewart of Scotland, the reigning Games 5000 metres champion, and third in Munich, as well as by David Black, the silver medallist in

the 10,000 metres on Friday. It is a formidable field, and it depends largely on how Bedford runs his race. By going out at a tremendous pace he will help his team-mates and will regain his confidence.

Bendina favoured The women’s 800 metres looks to be set up for the New Zealand girls. All three were impressive in their semi-finals. A word of advice, though, for Lorraine Moller and Shirley Somervell: don’t get yourselves dropped off in the final as you were in the semi-final, and expect to come through at the finish, because you will miss out on the medals if you do.

The three girls need to stick like glue to the frontrunning Sabina Chebichi, of Kenya and Charlene Rendina of Australia. Sue Haden of New Zealand will, I know, be tucked in behind these two girls. To me, Charlene Rendina is the favourite, just, with her 400-metre speed, but I expect the three New Zealand girls to be with her at the finish.