Australian walker dominates 20km

Press, 3 February 1981, Page 25

Australian walker dominates 20km

The Commonwealth record-holder, Dave Smith, of Australia, was an easy; winner of the' invitation 20km walk, held over a block course near Queen Elizabeth II Park on Sunday morning.

Smith, who works for a Melbourne fashion house, went straight to the lead and was never extended his j time of Ihr 26min 15.65; being three minutes below his best but still very good; considering he had not done; a full preparation. ■ The 25-year-old Smith; entered the stadium well; ahead of his closest rival | another Australian, Tim; Erickson, and crossed the! line with more than 1000m| to spare. Erickson, in turn, was just as far ahead of the third place-getter, Mike Parker, of Auckland

I Parker’s time of Ihr Simin ; 25.3 s was slightly outside his best for the distance, but he was almost three minutes up on the New Zealand record-holder Graham Scatter. Scatter, of Canterbury, finished solidly after being unable to match the solid early pace of the Australians.

j After the race Smith was ; somewhat critical of the !course.’He complained that ;it was a slow course with cambered road surfaces that iraade rhythmic walking difficult. There were also sev|eral tight comers, he added. ; “It is just that I am used ;to a flat'course with smooth I surfaces. However, the conditions were quite good and I am quite happy with my time.” said Smith, whose big target this year is the World Cun in Rn»- in Seotember.