Scott-Walker rivalry sets the scene for tense 1500m struggle

Press, 21 January 1982, Page 14

Scott-Walker rivalry sets the scene for tense 1500m struggle

By

ROD DEW

The first appearance at Queen Elizabeth II Park of the brilliant American middle distance runner, Steve Scott, and the prospect of keen competition among sprinters of world class suggest that the Pan Am-Tele-vision New Zealand international track and field meeting on Saturday will prove a memorable occasion.

The calibre of the fields in all international events is unusually high and more than one national all-comers record will be in danger. Spice is added to the meeting because it represents a rare opportunity for most New Zealand athletes to make their attempts for Brisbane Commonwealth Games qualifying standards against international opposition.

Provided the field does not alter appreciably, the men’s 1500 m promises' to be the feature race of the meeting, which will be televised live. And Scott’s first serious encounter with John Walker over this distance on New Zealand soil catches the imagination.

Scott, an aggressive runner famous tor the manner in which he attacks a race, has been running supremely well in recent months and if he has been slightly overshadowed by the outstanding British pair, Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, then it has not been by much. Last year Scott established a world indoor ,2000 m record of 4min 58.6 s at Louisville and last northern season he was second only to Ovett in the “Golden Mile’’ at Crystal Palace in London in 3min 535. This is a race which Walker, who has lost little of his pace since his world record-breaking days, no doubt remembers well. He was third.

Saturday’s race is undoubtedly one the tall New Zealander would dearly like to win. Scott beat him over a mile in the Australian record time of 3min 55.91 s in the Alcoa International Challenge meeting at Melbourne less than a week ago. The record he beat had been set by Walker three years earlier. But Walker was close behind in 3min 56.35, equalling his old record, and it is clear that Scott faces no

easy task on Saturday.

Scott has a best 1500 m time of 3min 31.95. But the race on Saturday should be rather more than a two-man affair. The familiar figure of

the English runner, Dave Moorcroft, will probably be in the field, although he might yet elect to run the 5000 m instead.

Moorcroft is the reigning Commonwealth 1500 m champion, a title he won at Edmonton nearly four years ago. He has been a regular competitor in New Zealand and never fails to give good value. Nobody will be more welcome among the overseas visitors.

John Robson (Scotland) and Harald Hudak (West Germany) are two other topclass 1500 m men listed in the field. Robson was third in the last Commonwealth final and is the holder of the Scottish 1500 m and mile records. His best 1500 m time is 3min 33.95.

With another Commonwealth Games approaching, interest will also be high in the performances of invited New Zealand athletes. Canterbury’s big hope is

Michael Gilchrist and one fellow New Zealander he will be watching closely is Tony Rodgers (Waikato). John Bowden (Auckland) and the Auckland champion. Keith Ewing, are others capable of a bold showing. The sprints might well provide some of the most spectacular racing. The field for the 100 m is bursting with talent and so large that the organisers have decided to run it in two divisions. The flashing figure all eyes will be on when the gun fires will be Mel Lattany. who was third in the last United States championship. He won the World Cup 200 m by a remarkable three metres at Rome last September. He has a 20.20 s 200 m to his credit and has run the 100 m in a blistering 10.045. Some indication of his ability can be gauged from his ten 100 m sprints under 10.095. His strongest competition will almost certainly come from three other very fast Americans, Dwayne Evans, Mark Kent, and Fred Harvey. Evans, whose 20.3 s 200 m was the third fastest recorded in 1981, is a man of no little experience. He was the bronze medallist in the 100 m at the Montreal Olympics in 10.25. Australia will be represented in the short sprints by Bruce Frayne and Peter Gandy, who competed with distinction in the Pacific Conference Games in Christchurch a year ago. Gandy, aged 20, won both the 100 and 200 m titles' at the Games and he has best times of 10.38 s and 20.3 s for the 100 m, and 200 m, respectively.

Frayne. four years older, was runner-up in the Pacific Games 200 m and he has best times of 10.3 s and 20.45. The New Zealand champion, Shane Downey (Auckland), is in the field and his meeting with the Canterbury sprinter. Joe Leota, who beat him over 100 m in Tahiti earlier this summer, will be interesting. All the internationals have been listed in the 200 as well as the 100 m, although the longer race will be restricted to one division.

In the 800 m, the spotlight will fall on Omar Khalifa (Sudan), who appears to have the right credentials for a win. He was fifth in the World Cup race and last year ran the distance in Irnin 45.35. Peter Hawes (Queensland) and the two prominent New Zealand runners, Peter Peerless (Auckland) and Chris Rodgers (Waikato), will all be looking for fast times to support their bids for Commonwealth Games selection.

An enthralling tactical struggle is in prospect for the 5000 m, .which will wind up the programme. Gerard Barrett, the bespectacled Australian who won the 5000 m in the international meeting in Christchurch two

years ago. will try for a repeat performance. There will be more than casual interest in his form after his controversial omission from the Australian team for the Pacific Games last year. However, the opposition is strong. New Zealand's Rod Dixon and Dick Quax are both listed as starters and their recent concentration on road events is not expected to reduce their chances of fast times.

Quax has been spending much of his time coaching in the United States and two of his pupils, Steve Spalencia and Tom Smith, should be worth a second glance. Smith has run 500 m in 13min 35s and Spalencia has run as much as 10s faster.