Quax pulls out of Auck. team

Press, 23 February 1978, Page 32

Quax pulls out of Auck. team

PA Auckland Dick Quax, just back from a campaign in the United States, has withdrawn from the Auckland team for the New Zealand athletic championship in Wellington on March 3 and 4. Although he did not contest the Auckland championships, which ended on Saturday night, Quax was selected for. the national championships in the 5000 m, a title he has won three times previously. But rather than go to Wellington he has decided to have a rest. He raced three times on the North American indoor circuit — in Los Angeles in on February 3, Toronto on February 10, and San Diego last Friday evening. His best place was second in the two-mile in Bmin 43s in Los Angeles. He finished fourth in the three-mile (13min 255) in Toronto, and fifth in the mile (4min 3s) in San Diego. Eamonn Coghlan (Ireland) won the San Diego mile in 3min 56s — a European indoor record. "It was a pretty dis-! appointing tour,” said Quax. “For some reason I just don’t seem to be suited to running on the tight indoor tracks. I’ve raced on them on two previous tours and after this latest experience I doubt that I’ll try again.” His plan is to run up to 150 miles a week, starting

on March 1. He would then like to spend six weeks training at altitude in either America or Mexico before going on his European campaign.

Last year he lowered the world 5000 m record to 13min 12.95, almost immediately after three weeks highaltitude training in Colorado. Quax reiterated his lack of real interest in competing in the Edmonton Commonwealth Games in August, even though he is certain to be selected. During the recent international series here, he ran 13min 26s for the 5000 m, well under the 13min 35s guideline standard set by the New Zealand selectors for Edmonton. “The Commonwealth Games don't mean that much to me, I’m much more interested in the European season,” said Quax. “But if I’m selected for Edmonton and in good form at the time of the games I’ll probably go.” Quax talked to the world 1500 m champion, Filbert ; Bayi several times while in the’United States. “Filbert is keen to compete in New Zealand, although he’s not in his best form at the moment,” he said. “He’s lost more races than he’s won indoors this year, but he did win the mile in San Francisco on 'Saturday night,” said Quax.