Quax runs to world record 5000m time

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 36

Quax runs to world record 5000m time

NZPA London Dick Quax of New Zealand has broken the world record for the 5000 metres. Running in Stockholm, Quax sliced one tenth of a second off the old record when he set a new world mark of 13min 12.9 sec. The old record, of 13min 13sec, was set in September, 1972, by a Belgian athlete, Emile Puttemans.

“I am glad I got it this year. I really wanted to go for the record again here.” said a happy Quax immediately after the race.

The race was described for NZPA by Quax’s team-mate John Walker, who said that the race had been perfectly timed and executed.

Quax’s fellow New Zealander, Rod Dixon, had led the field through 3000 metres in 7min 55sec before withdrawing. The lead was then taken over by a young West German, Karl Fleschen, until Quax sped to the front with two and a half laps still to go. At the bell he had only to run the final 400 metres in 60 seconds or less to break the record.

He was followed home by Fleschen in 13.13.9, and an-

[Other West German, Peter| •Wright, in 13.14.5. “It was an excellent run' right through in far from I ideal conditions — it’s freezing cold here.” Walker said, from Stockholm. “Looking at Dick and the; way he ran it. I think he is I capable of doing even better. 1 Walker said that the re-, cord was a vindication fori Quax after a series of set-! backs during his career. “It’s a real slap in the eye. for the New Zealand andi Australian selectors, who I could not even select him for: the Oceania team for theWorld Cup,” Walker said. ( “I think he has a perfect l attitude this year.” However, in spite of break- • ing the record, it seems unlikely that Quax will be re-1 invited to join the Oceania; team, which will compete in the World Cup contest at Dusseldorf in September. Mr Barry Hunt, the New Zealand representative on the Oceania selection panel, said yesterday that unless an athlete withdrew it was impossible for Quax to compete as a member of the Oceania

team. “The team was selected on the basis of one athlete per event. It is possible that Quax could be invited to compete as an individual, as could Britain’s Brendan Foster,” he said. Quax was originally named as a travelling reserve for the Oceania team but with-

drew. It is Mr Hunt’s opinion that, as an athlete cannot

simply be added to the team, and provided the runner

named for the 5000 m event, i David Fitzsimmons, of Aus-1 tralia, does not withdraw, I then Quax, if he does com-1

•[pete, will do so by a special I invitation from the contest i (organisers. II Quax trained for the Euro- ■ jpean season in high altitudes I'in Colorado, and is now conitemplating returning to the >i Rockies to train for an at- ; I tempt on the 10,000 metres .[world record. 'I John Walker will decide •[next week whether to remain .[in Europe or return home — (withdrawing from the World , Cup. [; Hopes for a marked imJprovement in his puzzling J calf muscle problem evapor,l ated yesterday, but Walker ■will have a further session [with a Swedish chiropractor Itodav before flying to Geneva Ito rim an 800 metres race | tomorrow. ' j Quax’s record was the third | [world standard to be set in 1 1 five days. Last Thursday, 1 Kenya’s' Samson Kimobwa ■ beat the 10,000 m world mark . in Helsinki, also by only .01 sec, and on Sunday, a Rus1 sian, Vladimir Yashenko, ' broke the high jump record 1 by clearing 2.33 metres. . Result: Men’s 5000 metres

Dick Quax (New Zealand), 13min 12.9 sec (world record) 1; Karl Fleschen (West Germany), 13:13.9, 2; Peter Weight (West Germany), 13:15.5, 3; Manfred Kuschmann (East Germany), 13:19.5, 4; Toshiak Kamaia (Japan), 13:25.4, 5; Hiedki Kita (Japan), 13:25.4, 6.

Boxing.—The World Boxing Council super light-weight champion, Saensak Muangsurln, of Thailand, may defend his title against Australia’s Hector Thompson late this year, Saensak's manager has said. The bout may be held at Sydney in leither August or September.