Maree beats Walker at Toronto

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 18

Maree beats Walker at Toronto

NZPA Toronto Sydney Maree passed New Zealand’s John Walker and Thomas Wessinghage in the final 10 metres on Saturday to win the inaugural Hitachi Mile run around the Provincial Legislature in Toronto in 3 minutes 56.32 seconds.

Maree, winner of the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York last year, was running third through the body of the race, holding his position along the inside kerb lane. He stuck five metres behind Walker and Wessinghage (West Germany) as the three broke from the pack passing the

half-mile mark. "I didn't think I'd be able to stay with them until the three-quarter point,” said the victorious Kenyan. "Then I realised I’d have the strength to stay with them to the end." Walker finished second and

Wessinghage third. Steve Scott (United States), who has clocked the second fastest mile time — 3:47.69 — led off the start but could not match the final sprint by the top three during the final 100 metres. The winning time was

slowed by an uphill portion of the route and a head wind. “It was not too easy getting my timing because of the upgrade and the head wind," said Wessinghage. “With 200 metres to go, I really felt the head wind and I couldn't stay on my pace."