Walker’s hope: five world records by Christmas

Press, 15 July 1976, Page 6

Walker’s hope: five world records by Christmas

NZPA staff correspondent Montreal

John Walker hopes to be the owner of five world records by the end of this year. He already has two — the mile and 2000 metres — and he said today that he hoped to add the 1500 metres, two miles, and 3000 metres.

“I’m in the best shape of my life,” he told a crowded press conference at the Games Village. But he admitted that he had a “fewniggling things that all athletes have.”

The “niggling things" are the Achilles tendon problems which caused him to miss the North American indoor circuit in February, and a foot injury he suffered at the week-end in Zurich. “I’ve had really bad trouble with my tendons,” Walker said. "I sometimes really shouldn’t be running." He is taking four antiinflammatory tablets a day, and has physiotherapy three times a day."

Walker’s problems may be alleviated when his personal doctor and friend, Dr Lloyd Drake, arrives from Auckland today. He will be given access to the Games Village to treat his star patient. Walker will make his world record attempts after the Games. He does not think that without Filbert Bayi, the present world record holder, the 1500 metres will be run in a record time.

“It will probably be 3min 33sec or 3min 34sec. or something like that,” Walker said. Bayi’s world record is 3min 32.25ec.

The two-mile record is: held by Brendan Foster, of Britain, who ran Bmm I3.Bsec in London in August, 1973, and the 3000-metrel record is also Foster’s, 7min 35.25ec, set in his home town, Gateshead, in August, 1974. In addition to the “dream mile tripel” series of races after the games. Walker will run in Britain, Scandinavia, l Europe, and probably Eastern Europe after the Games. Dixon is also in the mile series, and Dick Quax will run 5000-metre races at most meetings. I Walker. Dixon, and Quax went house-huting yesterday, on their first full day in Montreal.

The three have decided that if they can find suitable accommodation, they will move out of the crowded Games Village. They have spent only one •night in the New Zealand quarters on the twelfth floor of one of the pyramidshaped Village buildings, but Walker said today: “The accommodation is very unfair Ito the athletes. I “It needs only one person to get up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet to wake everyone else up,” he said. Walker and his coach,

;Arch Jeiley, share a bedroom within an open-plan I unit which accommodates |the rest of the New Zealand Imale athletic team. | “I usually sleep late,” Walker said. “But if someone wants to get up at 7 o'clock in the morning,, then evervone has to get up.” Dixon echoed Walkers comments, and said that even if th y did not live outside the Village permanently, they would certainly stay in the city on the eve of a major race.

-There is no way in which I can hat e a quiet night before the 5000 metres by living in the Village,” Dixon said.

They have been offered the use of a house 10 minutes walk from the Village and stadium area.

The three will need the permission of the New Zealand team’s general manager. Mr J. W. Holley, who has said he will consider their request.

Many other athletes in Montreal are living outside the Village, particularly whole sections of the East German and Russian teams. Several members of the British track and field team, which will arrive today, also plan to. shun the official quarters.