Walker’s easy draw

Press, 23 July 1976, Page 24

Walker’s easy draw

By RON PALENSKI, NZPA staff correspondent Montreal John Walker should move easily through to the 800 metres semi-finals when the Olympic Games track and field programme opens tomorrow morning (N.Z. time), but Dick Quax has drawn a tough heat in the 10,000 metres. The fields for the heats of both the 800 and 10,000 metres, the two main events on athletics’ opening day, were decided yesterday by Games organisers. Walker, who finally decided only yesterday to attempt the 800-1500 metres double, has been drawn in heat two, with his main opposition expected to come from Frank Clement, of Britain, like Walker a 1500 m specialist.

James Robinson of the United States, second in the

United States Amateur Athletic Union championships, is also drawn to run against the New Zealander. The first two in each of the six heats plus the next four fastest runners will qualify for the semi-finals, to be run on Sunday morning (N.Z. time). The race favourite, Rick Wohlhuter, of the United States, has drawn heat one and his main opponent is likely to be the fast West German 1500 Inetres runner, Thomas Wessinghage, who stayed the hot early pace of Walker’s 2000 metres world record in Oslo a month ago.

Two other fancied runners, Ivon van Damme of Belgium and Luciano Susanj (Yugoslavia) are drawn together in heat six and the British hope, Steve Ovett, has a mediocre field against him in heat three.

Rick Wohlhuter, a hot prospect for the 800 metres gold medal, does not consider John Walker a threat in the race.

Wohlhuter told a press conference in the Games village yesterday he did not think the New Zealander was experienced enough to win the 800. Wohlhuter won both the ROD and 1500 in the United States

Olympic track and field trials and will try to win the double at Montreal, a feat not accomplished since New Zealand’s Peter Snell pulled it off at Tokyo in 1964.

Wohlhuter said he thought Walker would use the 800 as a conditioner for the 1500 as Snell did in Tokyo, “but I hope he doesn't do as well as Snell did." The American said his planning for the two races was simple. "I'll take one at a time but I’m a serious contender for both. I’m in both for keeps.” Wohlhuter predicted his toughest opposition in the 800 would be Luciano Susanj and Ivo van Damme with Walker — “obviously” — Eamonn Coughlan, of Ireland, and the West Germans strongest in the 1500.

Wohlhuter said the 1500 would be a “pretty tough race” to win. Wohlhuter said he believed Walker’s best chances of victory in the 1500 lay in setting the pace, particularly in the final stages of the event.

Dick Quax is in the toughest of the three 10,000 metres heats, from which the first four plus the next three fastest will qualify for Tuesday morning's final.