Chettle just wins ‘short’ marathon

Press, 14 November 1977, Page 34

Chettle just wins ‘short’ marathon

PA Auckland Dave Chettle, of Australia, running his ninth marathon won the international marathon along the Auckland waterfront yesterday morning in an exhilarating sprint finish with Franco Fava, an Italian Olympic representative, in a world best time for the 26| mile event of 2hours 2mins 24sec. The first 11 in the race ran times under the previous world best time of 2 hours Bmin 33sec set by Derek Clayton, of Australia in Antwerp, and among many of the thousands of spectators who witnessed the race cries went up of “short course.” The race manager, Mr lan Gamble, said the course had been measured according to international rules — one metre out from the kerb three times after checking the circumference of the wheel with a steel tape — and the distance had proved to be 26 miles 385 yards as laid down. A traffic officer rode his

motor-cycle over the course after the event and it measured out on his calibrated speedometer at 600 metres short of the required distance.

lan Thompson, the Commonwealth champion, who ran a well-judged race to finish third in 2 hours 3min 31 sec, said it was a pity because even if there had been another kilometre to run the times would still have proved to be the world’s fastest of all time for the marathon.

Jack Fultz, of the United States, the 1976 Boston marathon winner, said: “It’s a shame if the course is off i— and it has to be with I those times. ! “It’s a beautiful course 'and conditions were perfect. , I look forward to coming 'back next year, even though I don’t look forward to running the extra distance, but they will have to put another three quarters of a mile in somewhere.” Jack Foster, of New Zealand, said: “It’s the best marathon course I have ever run on and it was the best

conditions.” Foster finished fifth in 2 hours 4min 53sec. Kevin Ryan, of New Zealand, in a bold bid to win the Choysa-sponsored event from the gun, led the field through the first skm in under 14min and the 10km in 29min 4sec, which prompted the experienced John Farrington (Australia) to remark: “There’s no way this course can be right. It has to be short because I am incapable of running these times in my present condition."

Ryan who stepped up the pace, shook off all except Stewart briefly but Fava quickly closed the gap and all three passed 15km in 43min 20sec. Foster, Thompson and Chettle lay back slightly together. Stewart dropped off the pace to trail as Ryan and Fava went through the 20km mark in ■s7min 23sec —• and a world best time was obviously on.

Half a mile later dramatic changes began to occur. Ryan tailed off and Fava, encouraged by the turning times of 1 hour 12min for Ryan and 1 hour 12min Bsec

for himself, increased his own fierce pace, sensing that he could break away completely from the advancing Chettle, who passed Ryan at the Ngapipi Road bridge. Then came the most dramatic event of the whole race. Passing the old sewage pumping station at Orakei Fava dropped his hands low, a sign that his heart was beginning beating irregularly, He fought on courageously until at the Tamaki Yacht Club bend he had to stop and walk, a pathetic, lonely figure as Chettle surged into the lead and Thompson advanced into second. But Fava is a brave little athlete.

Although he had lost 400 metres to Chettle he flung himself into the attack again — once his heart came right.

Together with Thompson, whom he pegged back wi* thin a mile, Fava chased the flying Australian. At the St Helier’s Bay turn they had closed considerably on Chettle, who appeared to be

falling back into their clutches. But Chettle was away again after the turn. “I knew what I was doing,” said Chettle after the race. “I was just taking it easy for a spell.”

The finish was almost unbelievable at the end of a marathon. There have been many close finishes in the event but none so close as the single second which divided Chettle and the second-placed Fava, as the plucky Italian dug up every ounce of reserve to sprint to the finish. Results:

D. Chettle (Australia), 2:2.24, 1; F. Fava (Italy), 2:2.25, 2; I. Thompson (England), 2:3.31, 3; K. Ryan (Owairaka), 2:4.41, 4; J. Foster (Rotorua), 2:4.53, 5; C. Stewart (England), 2:5.24, 6; J. Stanley (Australia), 2:6.46, 7; P. I Ballinger (Ne Plymouth), 2:7.7, 8; J. Fultz (U.S.A.), 2:7.13, 9; B. Palmer (Owairaka), 2:8.11. 10; J. Farrington (Australia), 2:8.16, 11; G. Tuttle (U.S.A.). 2:8.17. 12; C. Hicks (Christchurch), 2:9.11, 13; R. Dixon (Christchurch), 2:9.18, 14; T. Manners (Napier) 2:9.33, 15; M. Radcliffe (Christchurch). 2:9.45, 16; D. Young (Auckland University), 2:9.47, 17; J. Robinson (Manurewa), 2:10.48, 18; G. Dravltzki (New Plymouth), 2:11.58, 19; G. Struthers (Massey), 2:12.22, 20.