TOP 800m RUNNER Kipkurgat in team for N.Z. Games

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33741, 14 January 1975, Page 24

TOP 800m RUNNER Kipkurgat in team for N.Z. Games

(By

ROD DEW)

A man who has his sights on breaking the world 800 metres record, John Kipkurgat, is one of two Commonwealth champions included in the Kenyan track and field team for the New’ Zealand Games.

! A list of 16 names — 13 men and three women — which reached the games organisers yesterday, was the first indication of the Kenyan team’s composition.

Although lacking some of the competitors who were prominent at the Commonwealth Games 12 months ago, the team is one of considerable strength and should make a big impression. Kipkurgat, who heads the world rankings for the 800 metres, brilliantly won the Commonwealth Games final over this distance from his team-mate. Mike Boit, and the New Zealand representative. John Walker. His time of Imin 43.95ec broke the Commonwealth, Commonwealth Games, and New Zealand records and was only two-tenths of a second outside the world mark. World record Afterwards Kipkurgat expressed some disappointment at failing to better the world record, which is held by Marcello Fiasconary (Italy). “The heats too took much out of me,” he said indicating that he would like to return for another attempt on the Queen Elizabeth 11 Park Chevron surface.

Now he gets his second chance in the New Zealand Games, and this time he will not have to concern himself with a series of heats and semi-finals. There will be only two heats on the first day of the games (Thursday, January 23) and the final will be held the next day. However, he can expect no outside help. Boit, the Commonwealth silver medallist, is not included in the Kenyan team.

The other Commonwealth champion is Patwell Kimaiyo, who won the 110 metres

hurdles final last January in the Commonwealth Games [and*4’*.w Zealand record time of 13.7 sec. He also finished third in the 400 metres hurdles in 49.65ec. Another hurdler who was prominent at the Common- : wealth Games, William Koskei, is also listed. He finiished third in the 400 metres I hurdles in 49.35ec.

Now that the great Ben Jipcho has turned professional, the leading distance runners in Kenya are John Ngeno and Richard Juma. Both will run in the 10,000 metres at the games. Juma, one of those involved in the controversial incident with David Bedford, and world record-holder, in the Commonwealth event, appears to be one of the men to beat. He won the bronze medal over this distance at the Commonwealth Games.

The other male Kenyan team members, who have been listed by surname only, are Mochache, Chapkwony, Runu, Omwan, H. Ali, Ko- . men, Ndege and a second [Kipkurgat. J The only one of the three

women to have competed at the Commonwealth Games is Rose Tata. She was a finalist in the women’s 800 metres. A big disappointment is the non-selection of the very promising young middledistance runner, Sabina Chebichi, who was third in the Commonwealth 800 metres and fourth in the 1500 metres. She is off form. The other women are listed as Misses Za and Kubasu.