Walker just fails

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 30

Walker just fails

PA Auckland A crosswind and a “lazy” last lap cost John Walker any chance of a sub-3min 50s mile at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday evening, but he won comfortably in running under four minutes for the 84th time. Walker, the world mile record holder for four years until 1979, drew the pole in a field of 14 and immediately chased the pacemaker, Kim Lovegrove, through the first quarter (56.805) and the American, Don Paige, who steered the field through the half in Imin 53.45. At the bell Walker was well clear as Paige stepped off the track and Walker strove to turn a 2min 53s split into a sub-3min 50s mile. An Australian, Mike Hillardt, gave chase, but with a 25-yard cushion Walker was not going to surrender. He sped to the line still comfortably clear in 3min 52.825. Hillardt, more than three seconds behind, was second, while the 800 m specialist, Peter Elliott (England), who held out the deteritnined Peter O’Donoghue, was third.

Walker said later he had found it hard to concentrate in the last lap: “I really wanted Hillardt to be closer and pushing me. I got a bit lazy in the last quarter. I suppose the wind had something to do with that, as it was always going to be hard to go under 3min 505.” Until the mile, the second of the 1984 Pan Am-TVNZ track meetings had lacked much of the excitement of the Hamilton event two nights earlier. Results.— Men 100 m: A. Wells (Scot), 10.305, 1; H. Henley (U.S.), 2; M. Krulee (U.S.), 3. 200 m: Wells, 20.62 s (N.Z. all-comers record) 1; Henley, 2; Krulee, 3. 500 m: D. Clarke (Aust.), 46.025, 1; M. Gutry (Ham.), 2; K. Mishiba (Japan), 3. 800 m: P. Pearless (Auck.), Imin 48.425, 1; P. Bourke (Aust.), 2; I. Billy (Eng.) 3. Mile: J. Walker (Auck.) 3min 52.825, 1; M. Hillardt (Aust.), 2; P. Elliott (Eng.), 3. 5000 m: R. Flynn (Ire.), 13min 42.425, 1; J. Bowden (Auck.), 2; D. Burridge (Canty), 3. 10,000 m: R. Wilson (H.8.-P.8.), 28min 51.435, 1; D. McCallum ;Wgtn). 2; T. Birnie (Canty), 3. *

3000 m steeplechase: B. Maminski (Pol), Bmin 25.475, 1; P. Renner (Canty), 2; G. Duhaime (Canada), 3. Javelin: K. Elderbrink (Sweden), 84.10 m, 1; J. Stapleton-Smith (Canty), 2; M. Yoshida (Japan), 3. Long jump: S. Walsh (Auck.) B.lom, 1; A. Henderson (Auck.) 2; C. Smith (Auck.), 3. High jump: R. Te Puni (Wgtn), 2.10 m, 1; W. Boyd (Canty), 2; T. Lomax (Canty), 3. Women 100 m: D. Wells (Aust.), 11.525, 1; A. Wade (Auck.), 2; J. Fleming (Aust.), 11.905, 3. 200 m: Wells, 23.635, 1; Wade, 2; L. Massey (Waik.), 3. 400 m: L. Evans (Aust.), 53.685, 1; K. Robertson (Auck.), 2; L. Kay (Canty), 3. 800 m: H. Barallet (Aust), 2min 03.365, 1; L. Baker (Eng.), 2; J. Januchta (Pol.), 3. 3000 m: B. Kraus (W. Germ.), Bmin 55.865, 1; C. Twomey (U.S.), 2; S. Bruce (Canty), 3. 100 m hurdles: Fleming, 13.875, 1; Massey, 2; J. Mitchell (Auck.), 3. Shotput: M. Ritchie (Scot.), 16.90 m, 1; G. Hughes (Auck.), 2; J. Bishop (Canty), 3. Discus: Ritchie, 60.24 m, 1: G. Martin (Aust.), 2; Bishop, 3. Long Jump: Mitchell, 6.20 m. 1; Fleming 2; M. Clarken (Auck.), 3.