Marathon too for Viren?

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 14

Marathon too for Viren?

By

STEPHEN PARRY,

N.Z.P.A.-Reuter corres. Montreal Lasse Viren has a chance to establish himself as the greatest distance runner in Olympic history — but only half the Finnish camp wants him to take it. After nearly a quarter of a century, the legendary Czechoslovakian, Emil Zatopek, is still the only runner to realise the impossible dream of the 5000 and 10,000 metres and marathon gold medals at the same Olympics. Now Viren has a chance to go one better. Fours years ago in Munich he joined an elite band of only four men to score a 5000 and 10-000 metres double. Yesterdav he took the Montreal 10,000 metres gold in fine style.

No-one has ever accomplished the track double at one Games and followed up with a treble at the next, but this is the task that Viren is now seriously considering.

■ But there is a snag. Viren [has never run the full mara- ! thon distance of 26 miles [385 yards (42.19 km) and [half the Finnish team in [Montreal believe he could [seriously damage his chances in the two track events by deciding to run in the marathon as well. Viren’s performances in Munich carried an almost god-like quality, but for the last four years he has been like a man in the wilderness, only a shadow of his former self. ■ The track and field world i virtually wrote him off as a [gold medal prospect in Montreal — until last month — I when he rocked his rivals [with the fastest 10,000 | metres time of the year. I There was another shock [when the 27-year-old policeman was named for all three distance events, though the initial assumption was that Viren was simply taking out some extra insurance in case he flopped in the two track races.

• But Finnish team officials Iconfirmed that he is a serious contender for the marajthon, although he will not ! make a final decision until he .has competed in the 5000 metres.

“It is possible the heat and humidity could impose too much of a strain if Viren goes for all three events,” a Finnish liaison officer (Mr Helge Nygren) said. Viren collected his third Olympic gold medal when he retained his Munich 10,000 metres title yesterday. Viren, who established himself as one of the Olympic greats alongside his fabled countryman. Paavo Nurmi, destroyed the opposition in the race. He was in a comfortable position throughout, behind the world cross-country champion. Carlo Lopes, of Portugal. but with 450 metres to go Viren stunned the crowd of 60.000 with an electrifying burst of speed. Viren, who has raced rarely over the last four

[years, won going away by (about 80 metres. I His time of 27min 40.4 sec Iwas slower by two seconds than his Munich time, hut [the manner of his win was [much more impressive, despite the fact that he fell and set a world record at the 1972 Olympics. Brendan Foster, of Great Britain, running only his third 10,000 metres race, stayed with Viren and Lopes for 19 of the 24 laps, but then could not take any more of the consistent 64sec laps Viren and Lopes w'ere churning out. Foster’s countryman, Tony Simmons. came home strongly for fourth place. Among the men to fall by the wayside were the world record-holder for 5000 metres. Emile Puttemans, of Belgium, who withdrew, and [Dutchman Jose Hermans, the [world 20,000 metres recordholder, who won the 10.000 metres race at the New Zealand Games last year in Christchurch.