Walker, Bayi to race at same meeting

Press, 17 September 1976, Page 4

Walker, Bayi to race at same meeting

By

RON PALENSKI,

NZPA staff' correspondent

London A French athletics, promoter has managed what other promoters and the International Olympic Committee have failed to do: have John Walker and Filbert Bayi running at the same meeting.

With cloak and dagger organisation, the promoter, Mr Claude Zan, has arranged for Bayi, of Tanzania, to run at his two-day meeting in Paris tonight and Walker to run tomorrow night. “We’re not announcing this until Friday in case the Africans don’t like it,” Mr Zan told the NZPA from Paris yesterdav.

“They will not be running in the same race and they will not be running on the same night,” Mr Zan said.

“We think that should make everyone happy, but we don’t like to take chances.”

Bayi will be joined by I several other Africans at Jean Eouin Stadium in Paris tonight, and Walker will be joined bv compatriots Rod Dixon and Dick Quax tomorrow night. The meeting will be the New Zealanders’ last in 'Europe for the year. All |three return to New Zealand next week.

Whether Bayi would stay in Paris tomorrow to watch Walker run was not known. Mr Zan said. But Walker will not be seeing Bayi. Tonight, Walker, Dixon and Quax will be on the other side of the channel run ! ning at London's Crystal Pal-1 ace track, where Walker is; hoping for a fast mile time.; Walker told the NZPA yes-1 terday from Gateshead ini north-east England, where he I

won an 800 metres race or I Wednesday night in i m h i49.Bsec in heavy rain, tha 'the three of them had a< 'cepted the Paris run. I "I thought it would be ; good exercise in diplomat, I relations," Walker saic | "We’ve got nothing to Won . I about, we’ve done nothin; wrong." He said he would still liki to race against Bayi — th ■last time they met was h Christchurch in January la, year—but it was up to Bay i Since the two last me' 'Walker has set mile and 2(h (metres world records ar I won his Olympic gold med; ("I’ve got nothing to prove 'he said. At Paris, Bayi. Mike B and John Kipkurgat v meet in an 800 metres ra ( Tomorrow night, Wa! wil) race over 1500 met and Dixon and Quax will in a 3000 metres event.