Fine run by John Walker

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 4

Fine run by John Walker

PA Invercargill The former Olympic 1500 m gold medallist. John Walker, turned in a fine Imin 47.3 s run to win the 800 metres at the international track series meeting at Surrey Park. Invercargill, last evening.

Walker, who has been using the 800 metres as part of his build-up to mile and 1500 metres events later in the international track series, said after the race that he had expected to run around Imin 495. but in spite of a cool wind down the back straight he had been able to record his fastest time of the year. He broke the 17-year-old Southland all-comers’ record of another former New Zealand Olympic medallist. Peter Snell, who recorded Imin 49.1 s on the grass track at Rugby Park in 1965.

Questioned on his plans for the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane later this year. Walker said he would be running in the 800 and 1500 metres.

"A lot of people have speculated on my running up to 5000 metres, bui I don’t think I’m ready for it at the moment," he said. “I think it will be 1983 before I go up to the 5000 metres."

Earlier. Dick Quax finished second to the Scot, John Robson, in a slowly run 3000 metres.

Quax had led until the final straight. Mike O’Rourke easily won the javelin with a throw’ of 85.64 metres.

The Finnish star. Kimmo Pallonen, who arrived by air only 15 minutes before the event started, won the pole vault with a leap of 5.20 metres.

Northland’s Wendy Brown, the three-times New Zealand women's sprint champion, won the 100 metres and 200 metres, but her Southland record-break-ing times were ruled to be windassisted. The American sprinters. Mike Kent and Fred Harvey, dominated the 100 metres' and 200 metres respectively. Results included?Men 100 metres.—M. Kent (U.S.) 10.25, 1: F. Harvey (U.S.) 10.3. 2; J. Leota (Canterbury) 10.6, 3. (Wind assisted.) 200 metres.—F. Harvey (U.S) 21.31, 1; J. Leota (Canterbury) and E. Peterson (Canterbury), equal 2, 21.8. Women 200 metres.—W. Brown (Northland) 23.46, 1; J. McGregor (Britain) 23.8. 2; B. Peterson (Canterbury). 24.35, 3. 800 metres.—L. Ballenger (U.S.) 2.11.5, 1; M. Keyes (U.S.) 2:12.1, 2; R. Allison (Canterbury) 2:12.5. 3.