Bayi, culmination of a marvellous festival of athletics

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 18

Bayi, culmination of a marvellous festival of athletics

In the 1972 Olympics he was sixth in his heat of the 150(1 metres, in 3min 45.4 sec. and ninth in his heat of the 3000 metres steeplechase in Smin 41.45 e—not a \cr\ impressive performance for any athlete, and this was onh a matter ol 16 months ayo.

This is the history of Filbert Bayi, of Tanzania, who ran the finest 1500 metres race that you are ever likely to see in New Zealand — or, for that matter, anywhere. He completely revolutionised the 1500 metres race, finally exploding the theory that a front runner could never burn off the opposition in such a short run. Athletes like the great Ron Clarke of Australia and Vladimir Kutz, of Russia, had been able to do it successfully over the 5000 and 10,000 i metres, and in the 1500 metres Herb Elliott, of Australia, had tried, but going (out only after the first 500 or '6OO metres. i Kip Keino. of Kenya, had also used this tactic, but I usually after the first 400 ! metres. Perfect liming i Saturday’s race went perfectly for Bayi. We always knew what his tactics would I be, because he had practised I these so often last year that he had almost perfected them. The one thing that made his world record possible, however, was the opening lap, when he covered this in a steady (for him) 54.55ec; he usually ■blazes out in below 52sec. i He slowed down then to the perfect pace on the second lap, covered in 57.5 sec, to reach the 800 metres in Imin 52sec—a highly respectable time for an 800 metre race normally. The following group had i been kept fairly close by I Mike Boit, of Kenya, whom ione suspects had been asked to help his countryman, the great Ben Jipcho. Rod Dixon and John Walker had looked particularly strong in this group and •we thought that the bunch •would eventually overwhelm

the slight figure ahead. The bell was reached in a staggering 2min 38.2 sec. so we 'were obviously in for a very fast time with Bavi about 12 metres ahead. He kept this advantage all the way down the back straight,' but coming around the first turn Jipcho, Dixon and Walker were pulling the following group closer and closer.

Amazing finish Bayi started to look back,. ■Normally this is a sign that itiredness and fear have got; i the better of you and you are ■ 'about to crumple. Walked jmust have thought this, be-| cause he broke away from Jipcho and Dixon and set off I after Bayi coming into the' ■ finishing straight. I He closed the gap, but Bayi, looking around again, saw him and, incredibly, accelerated up the straight to' open the gap on Walker!

again, which he maintained on through the tape. Walker was a magnificent, record-breaking second and Jipcho a tired third—no doubts now that his racing i schedule here had finally caught up with him. mainly because this race had been' , run at world record pace. The new world record has i shown us that Bayi can now break the next magical mile barrier of 3min 51sec wnich athletics experts had thought : would not be achieved for , another two or three years, i (The usual time conversion lof I7sec when comparing ; 1500 metres to one mile (showed that he ran the mile iequivalent of 3min 49.25ec.) Walker—advice What can 1 say about John Walker: He just missed the silver medal and Peter Snell’s (record in the 800 metres by la tactical mistake, but ran a (perfect 1500 metres on Saturday to become the second fastest man in the world lover a distance on which he I is still basically a novice. He is now destined to| become the greatest 800/1500 i metres runner New Zealand I has produced and could soon be one of the world greats? ; I would give him a bit .of advice though—do not |accept too many invitations |to run all over the world.l i Plan a racing programme I (sensibly and pick out the imI port races, but always keep | the correct balance between (training, racing, resting and travelling. i Too many athletes have; been burnt out in the past

I by getting carried away with ail the racing, and not enough training and resting. It was great to see the number of track records broken at Queen Elizabeth II Park, surely proving vet again what a wise chore was the Chevron 440 track. The middle-distance racing here was the finest in the world, surpassing even these events in the Munich Olympic Games. We saw on” • world record, nine Common wealth Games track '■■•oro lin the men’s events and six Commonwealth Games track records in the women's. The final medal tab'e showed England with 10 gold 13 silver and five bronzt. followed by Australia with • eight gold, seven silver. • seven bronze. Kenya six gold, two silver, six bronze. Canada {four gold, two silver, six bronze, and then New Zea land with two gold, four si! (ver and two bronze. “1 would like to finally say how much 1 have enjoyed these Games, which I think athletically were the best '{Commonwealth Games I have ' ever seen and also the New !. Zealand people, who have (looked after our athletes, otii cials and spectators so well."