Domination continues

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 12

Domination continues

Bv Ron Palenski NZPA staff correspondent Montreal' East Germany's dominance of Olympic swimming switched to track and field over the week-end but the two most popular winners on the first two davs of athletics came from the Western, Hemisphere. Of the five gold medals! decided, three went to Easti Germans, one to a Mexican and one to Trinidad and Tobago. The Mexican who gamed' the first Olympic gold medal for his country at any Olympics was Daniel Bautista, who, marched off with the 20km walk. He won the testing event by nearly a minute and the crowd of 60.000 screamed in. delight as the little Mexican knelt down and crossed himself—as he finished. That was on the first day. Three East German gold medals later, another coun-

itrv gained its first win at an 'Olyfnpics. A Trinidad and Tobago' ispnnter, Hasely Crawford flashed along the tartan track ; for 100 metres and earned himself the title—for the next ■ four years, at least—of L.e i world s fastest human. In his slipsteam were the 'Commonwealth Games dual 'sprint winner, Don Quarrie jof Jamaica, and the 1972 • double Olympic champion, Valerv Borzov, of Russia. The East Germans won two of the "heavy" events so f r .decided, the world recordholder, Ruth Fuchs, taking the womens javelin with an Olympic record throw of 165.94 metres, and Udo Beyer winning the men’s shot put 1 with a heave of 21.05 metres. The shot was notable for the defeat of the world re-, cord holder. Al Feuerbach 1 (U.S.) who finished fourth, and the European and Commonwealth champion. Geoff Capes, of Britain, who was sixth. East Germany’s other win

was in the women’s long jump where Angela Voigt won with a best leap of 6.72 metres. (New Zealand’s Yvette Williams won in 1952 with 6.28 metres). A shock in the women’s! [BOO metres yesterday was the elemination of the world record-holder, Valentina Gerasimova, of Russia. She swept through the first round) on Friday, but came unstuck! yesterday and could only! finish sixth in her semi-final,i nearly six seconds slower' than her world record. Her team-mate and world’s best over 1500 metres. Tatjana Kazankina, qualified easily however and is rated the best chance for the gold.

The women’s 100 metres final is also today and among The leading contenders on the basis of heats performances have been the defend!..g champion, Renate Stecher, of East Germany, Australia’s Raelene Boyle, and a West German. Inge Helten, who has the fastest time for the year.