Allison Roe’s prediction

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 48

Allison Roe’s prediction

PA Auckland Allison Roe predicts that women will be running the marathon in under 2 hours 20 minutes within five years. Mrs Roe, back in Auckland yesterday from her New York Marathon triumph a fortnight ago said she expected a big break-through by women in the marathon next September when a European women’s marathon championship is held for the first time. “The Eastern Europeans, who turn out most of the world’s best 1500 m and

3000 m runners on the track, haven’t taken to marathon running yet. “But with this inaugural European championship next year and a women’s marathon being included in the 1984 Olympics for the first time, the Eastern Europeans are sure to become very much involved in the event." Despite this expected new challenge, Mrs Roe believes she will remain competitive at top level. By the time of the 1984 Olympics she is confident she

will be able to run under 2hr 20min. She ran 2:25.28 in New York, the fastest yet for a woman. In fact, had conditions been perfect for the New York marathon two weeks ago, she thinks she may have run as fast as 2:23 then. “The atmosphere for the race couldn’t have been better with huge crowds lining the route and giving you a tremendous lift,” said Mrs Roe, “but the course wasn’t that fast, and we had a head wind most of the way.