Record attempt still on

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 16

Record attempt still on

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND. There is a good chance John Walker will still have a crack at the world 1500 metres record in Auckland on January 31, despite the absence of Filbert Bayi.

Although Walker was unavailable for comment yesterday—he is holidaying at on the Coromandel Peninsula —the possibility of the world record attempt was confirmed by Walker’s medical adviser and friend, Dr Lloyde Drake. “Several days ago, when it looked as though Bayi and his fellow Tanzanians might not be making the New Zealand tour, John and I discussed his racing plans for January,” said Dr Drake yesterday

“He was pretty determined then to take the record held by Bayi at 3min 32.25ec. Right state “At the moment he’s certainly in the state of fitness and health to do it. His mile time of 3min 57.8 sec at Manurewa last Sunday indicates this. It was a fabulous run considering the track.” Dr Drake emphasised that Walker would not be able to break the world record on his own.

“He will need the support of the public to do it,” continued Dr Drake. “If 30,000 people turn up at Mount Smart and really get behind him, I’m sure he can break the record. It will create the atmosphere that is so essential for world times.” John Walker’s coach, Mr Arch Jelley, said yesterday

that he had not yet had an opportunity to discuss the January 31 meeting with his star athlete. Needs time "If John did decide to have a go at the record, he would not know what his chances were until a week or 10 days before the race,” said Mr Jelley. “He would then be in a position to determine his form. But he would have to be in tremendous shape to achieve it.” Walker came within o.2sec of Bayi’s world 1500 metres record during his very successful European campaign last year. Meanwhile, the Auckland Athletic Centre could lose almost $lOO,OOO in gross receipts through the cancellation of the Tanzanian’s New Zealand tour. The Auckland Athletic Centre had negotiated a substantial five-figure sum, through overseas and local television authorities, to televise the Walker-Bayi clash on January 31. It was also anticipating a crowd of 25,000 to 30,000, which meant a gate of approximately $50,000. The centre had also figured the three other meetings featuring Bayi and Walker in Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin would yield gate takings of $25,000 to $30,000, bringing the overall gross receipts to $lOO,OOO. Still on Announcing that the Wellington meeting would still go ahead, Mr Colin Maclach-

Jan, chairman of the Wellington Athletics Centre, said yesterday attention may now focus on what is shaping up to be a star-studded 1500 metre field, possibly including Walker.

“I’ve written to John Walker, telling him that the invitation to him still stands. I asked him if he might like to run the 1500, since Bayi’s not coming. “If he ran in this, it would be a strong field, with Rod Dixon and Ken Hall, who ran second in Walker’s mile run, also taking part.”

Mr Maclachlan said the meeting would probably now be built around an Australian team of 12 athletes, who will be taking part. He said it was too early to tell if there would be any loss in revenue because Bayi was not coming.