JIPCHO TWO UP AND ONE TO GO IN GAMES THREE-GOLD TARGET

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 7

JIPCHO TWO UP AND ONE TO GO IN GAMES THREE-GOLD TARGET

(By

R. O. DEW)

”1 was just running. On another day, the winner would have been somebody else." That was the modest comment of the Kenyan. 30-year-old Ben Jipcho, after he won the 5000 metres final—in the second fastest time in track history—at Queen Elizabeth IT Park yesterday.

Jipcho took the gold medal — his second of the Games so far — by no more than a stride from the tenacious Englishman, Brendan Foster. His time of 13min 14.4 sec was only I.4sec outside the world record held by the Belgian, Emiel Puttemans.

It also broke the Commonwealth record of the great Australian distance runner, Ron Clarke, and the New Zealand open record held by the injured and unfortunate Dick Quax. Foster’s I3min 14.6 sec was also belter than the previously second fastest time recorded over this distance. “I tried to go from 450 metres and gave it all I had. I thought 1 was going to catch Jipcho in the finishing straight but I didn’t quite make it,” Foster said afterwards. Black third Third place was taken by another Englishman, David Black, in 13min 23.65 e—a fine performance considering he had been runner-up in the 10,000 metres on the opening day of the Games. Foster paid a sincere tribute to Jipcho, the man who is now the undisputed track personality of the Games. “1 am surprised he can cover such a wide range of events. This was the third race he has run this week. What might he have done if he had run the 10,000 metres as well,” Foster said. Not unbeatable But Foster does not consider Jipcho unbeatable. “Since the race I have been thinking of how I can beat him. 1 would certainly like to run against him again. “This one was not really a race until the last five laps. Obviously, if we did it again, 1 would race all thej way.” Jipcho’s next event will be the 1500 metres. The heats are tomorrow and the final on Saturday. Asked who would be his biggest rival, he replied: “Just the track.”

“What is your best event?” asked one journalist. “At the moment, I am in favour of almost everything,” he replied.

Unselfish Bedford

Foster also praised the decision of the unlucky Englishman, David Bedford,

to sacrifice his own chances in an effort to set a fast early pace for him. “David Bedford said he would make a race of it. It was a brave effort of his. He is pretty low at the moment.”

Bedford, the world recordholder for 10,000 metres, certainly caused a surprise when he went to the front from the start. He carried the field through the first lap in a blistering 61sec before settling down to a regular 66sec. He held the lead for four laps as first Black, then Paul Mose (Kenya), then lan Stewart (Scotland), the dedefending champion, followed in second place. Out of race On the fifth lap, Bedford was clearly suffering: he dropped right back and out of the contest. Black took over as pace-setter and Foster, who had been down the field in the opening laps, moved into second place as Black lifted the pace to 62secl a Jap. At the half way. Black led from Foster, Stewart and the Australian. David Fitzsimmons. Jipcho, content to stay well out of trouble, had moved up three places, to sixth. Soon afterwards, however, he made his move. On the seventh lap he took up a position behind Foster and the Englishman immediately responded by increasing his pace and passing Black into the lead. Black dropped to third and the

I Tanzanian, Mjava Nyambui, was fourth. Mose was still in contact with the leaders when he tripped and went sprawling on to the track. He lay there for a second or two'before scrambling to his feet. But he had lost several placings and was never again a threat to the front men. Lead changes Foster was still leading , after eight laps, with Jipcho on his heels and Black three yards back. Then Black showed unsuspected strength as he sprinted to the front on the next lap and stayed there for the next two. With 800 metres remaining Foster increased the pace and passed Black, but Jipcho, running easily and appearing untroubled by the searing pace, refused to be shaken off. From the bell, there were only two in, it. On the final bend. Jipcho tried to go round Foster, was momen-! tarily held off and then got' the upper hand. Furious sprint Both sprinted furiously into the finishing straight. Over the last 50 metres, Foster put in one last supreme effort and narrowed the gap slightly. But a couple of 1 mighty strides carried Jipcho safely past the finishing line in first place. The time for that, incredible last lap was just slightly ’ more than 55sec. ‘

Afterwards, Jipcho expressed some doubt about planned trips to America, Canada and Europe. He criticised the Kenyan Athletic Federation for hot. allowing him to go overseas in search of strong competition as often as he would like.

“The older I get the more the good times escape me,” he said.