Hangover fails to stop Henry Rono

Press, 12 August 1978, Page 13

Hangover fails to stop Henry Rono

The effects of an impromptu party in the Kenyan fjuarters al the Games Village the previous night failed to prevent the incredible Henry Kono (Kenya) from winning his second gold medal of the XI Commonwealth Games with an effortless victory in the 5000 m final vesterdav.

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Rono later complained that he was “feeling bad” as a result of the Kenyan festiities but he dictated terms throughout. Four laps from the end, he stepped up his pace and from that point the only race was for the silver medal. The 26-year-old world record-holder was some 30m clear of his nearest challenger as he crossed the finishing line in 13min 23.045ec, more than 14sec outside his best. Another Kenyan. 24-year-old Michael Musyoki, claimed the silver medal in I3min 29.925ec after a keen last-lap tussle with Brendan Foster (England), Mike McLeod (England), and Suleiman Nyambui (Tanzania). Foster finally added the bronze medal to the gold he won in the 10,000 m recording 13min 31.355ec. It was an enthralling race, although there was rarely any doubt who would claim the gold medal. However, for the tall New Zealander, Rod Dixon, it was a disaster. He had to run in a borrowed uniform and borrowed shoes after his gear was stolen from the warmup tent a few minutes before the race. He was never comfortable, started to lose the leaders three laps from the finish and finally loped in a disappointing seventh. His time of 13min 43.695ec was far below his capabilities. The race was run in warm

conditions under an overcast sky. There were a few spots of rain, but the threatened downpour did not eventuate. For the Kenyans, it was another night for rejoicing. “I am really very happy. I didn’t think I could run that fast,” Rono said afterwards, indicating that he had been very late to bed the night before. Pressed for more details, he explained that he usually goes to bed at 9 p.m. But the night before the race he was up until 11 p.m. I had about four beers and did a little dancing.” He said he had been running just to win. Time had not been a consideration at any stage. His immediate plans involve a trip to Europe, where he is confident that he can improve on some of his four world records. “I think I can run the 10,000 m in 27min flat and go under Bmin for the steeplechase,” he said. Asked if he had any special tactics for the 5000 m final, he said he never went into a race with any set plan. “I test the athletes with me to see how strong they are and from there I develop my tactics.”

The final honour for Rono was to receive his gold medal from one of Kenya’s greatest former athletes, Kip Keino. “I was extremely happy and extremely proud,” he said. If Dixon’s chances were ruined by the theft of his New Zealand gear bag, there was one other famous New Zealander with some in fluence on the race. Peter Snell, the former world 800 m and 1500 m recordholder, had helped Rono with part of his training at Washington State University where he is a student. This was later acknowledged by Rono. The start of the race washeld up for more than 15min while officials searched for Dixon’s missing gear. It was in vain. The tall New Zealander, ranked only second to Rono for the event, finally accepted that he would have to run in borrowed shoes and uniform. But he was so nervous and tense that there was no chance that he could produce a reasonable race.

Nick Rose (England) led from the gun but the longstriding ebony figure of Rono was quickly behind him in second place. Rose led the field through the first lap in Imin 2sec with Rono, Foster, Tony Simmons (Wales), and the rest of the field bunched up behind. At the first 1000 m Rono was at the front, his time 2min 39.45ec outside worldrecord schedule. Close behind were Foster and Rose. Foster made a bid to break up the field soon afterwards, and he led through the 1200 m mark fro'm Rono and Rose. Rono, who appears to prefer running his races from the front, resumed the lead a lap later but for long periods ran wide. It ap= peared to make no difference. Rono went through 2000 m in smin 20.465ec. By this time, Kipsibai Koskei (Kenya), was making his presence felt. He went through the 2000 m in second place with Foster, Mclecfd,

Nyambui and Dixon strung out in Indian-file behind. Rono and Koskei were soon joined by Musyoki at the head of the field and for a time it looked as if the three Kenyans were going to run away with the race. They lifted their pace and a gap of some 3m opened up to the next man, McLeod. Nyambui was further back in a group with Foster, Nathaniel Muir (Scotland), and Dixon. However, the Kenyans were pulled back and Rono led through the 3000 m in Bmin I.4sec.- McLeod was second again and Musyoki, Koskei, Nyambui, Foster and Dixon were again in contact. Four laps from the end, Rono started sprinting. A gap quickly opened on the rest of the field. The crowd roared, Rono accelerated still further and the race was as good as over. He was well clear when the 4000 m came up in lOmin 45,555ec.

But behind him the battle for the silver medal continued. Three laps from the 1 end, Dixon was clearly in trouble and drifting back. But Nyambui, McLeod, Musyoki and Foster were still together. On the final bend, Foster sprinted past Musyoki into the lead in a desperate bid for the silver. But the little Kenyan still had something in reserve. He flew past a tiring Foster down the finishing straight to gain second. Foster hung on for third and McLeod fin-, ished fourth, the same position he had sained in the 10,000 m. Behind them, a lonely figure in a borrowed New Zealand uniform, his four-year build-up destroyed by a thief, trotted straight into the dressing-room without stopping. For Rod Dixon, the man who was expected to provide Rono with his strongest challenge, the race had been the biggest disappointment of his life.

The pace of the race was a modest one by recent international standards and Foster later said he thought he had an explanation for this. “I think the altitude is making a slight difference. I am sure it makes you struggle earlier in the race than you would normally.” Edmonton is about 2500 ft above sea level.