Ryan still aiming for Olympics

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 28

Ryan still aiming for Olympics

NZPA staff correspondent Washington

Boston-based marathon runner, Kevin Ryan, omitted from the Olympic team, says he will run the Stockholm Marathon on June 2 in a bid to qualify.

The convener of selectors, Mr R. Dutton, said Ryan could join Rod Dixon and Derek Froude at the Olympics if he came up with a “top world performance.” Ryan. 35, finished the New York Marathon last October 20 seconds outside the 2:12.30 qualifying time.

That course was extended about 80 yards past the official distance because of a dispute over corner-cut-

ting in 1981, he said, and he also lost time at a water station.

Obviously bitterly disappointed, and charging the selectors with lack of consistency, Ryan pointed to his long experience at running marathons and also to the fact that he will be training up till the games in temperatures which will reach more than the 38 degree Celsius mark.

This meant he would be in the best position of any of the runners, he said.

“It wouldn’t hurt them to put me in the team. I’ve got all the experience in the world. I just can’t believe they would do a silly thing like that.”