Scammell confirmed

Press, 8 February 1985, Page 30

Scammell confirmed

The leading Australian middle-distance runner, pat Scammell, has confirmed his entry for the feature mile in the international track and field meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Sunday evening. Scammell, who recently ran a 3min 56s mile in Melbourne, is confident he can push New Zealand’s John Walker hard in his quest for his ninety-eighth sub-4min mile. Walker needs to go under this still difficult barrier on Sunday if he is to be certain of staying ahead of his Ameri-

can rival, Steve Scott, and become the first athlete in history to run a century of sub-4min miles.

Another possible starter is the brilliant South African-born runner, Sydney Maree, whose home is now in the United States. Ray Flynn (Ireland), who was originally included in the field, is now likely to race in only the Wanganui meeting next Wednesday and in the final meeting in Auckland on Sunday week. Officials last evening were hurriedly attempting to strengthen the fields, and

more names for the mile, scheduled for a 7.25 p.m. start, will probably be announced today.

New Zealand milers in the field to assist Walker include the Olympic 1500 m finalist at Los Angeles last year, Tony Rogers (Waikato), and John Bowden (Auckland), who was the national 5000 m champion in 1983. Colin McDonald (Canterbury), a brilliant winner of the provincial 1500 m title last Sunday, will also race in the mile and clearly has the ability to do well.