Heavy price to pay?

Press, 7 March 1984, Page 48

Heavy price to pay?

NZPA-Reuter New York The top Australian long distance runner, Rob de Castella, believes marathon runners may jeopardise their health at the Los Angeles Olympics because of the city’s infamous smog. De Castella, aged 27, who has not lost a marathon since the 1980 Moscow Olympics, said in New York yesterday: “I think there will be a fairly high risk to our health.” “I hate to think I might destroy my athletic career because of adverse weather conditions. It’s a heavy price to pay.” De Castella is among a number of runners unhappy at the prospect of racing in Los Angeles in mid-northern summer because of the heat and smog that usually prevails in the city at that time of year. The Australian, whose best time of 2hr Bmin 18s is only five seconds behind the world best of the American, Alberto Salazar, was also critical of the Los Angeles organising committee for scheduling the marathon at 5.15 in the afternoon. “I understand the sun doesn’t set in Los Angeles until about 8 o’clock, so at 5.15 it’s likely to be very sunny and hot,” he said. “I would much prefer that it be held at 7 o’clock in the morning, and I think the other runners would, too,” he added. De Castella said that the organising committee had obviously acceded to a request by television officials to start the race at 5.15 p.m. “I don’t think the media should decide when an event is held,” he said. He said that the Australian Athletic Federation had protested to both the International Olympic Committee and the Los Angeles Organising Committee about plans to hold the event in late afternoon on August 12, the last day of the games. “But obviously nothing ever came of the protest and I’m disappointed.”