Games qualifying bid by Walker is foiled

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 23

Games qualifying bid by Walker is foiled

PA Auckland A lung infection has strangled John Walker’s hopes of qualifying in Hamilton on Saturday for the Commonwealth Games 1500 metres. A viral infection picked up in Melbourne has hindered his training, reducing

the opportunities he will have between now and April 1 to qualify for the Edinburgh event. Walker had intended attempting to meet the qualifying standard of 3min 39s at the Countrywide Grand Prix series meeting at Porritt Stadium.

“I haven’t been right since I returned from Melbourne last month, where I ran that mile in 3min 585,” Walker said yesterday. “I’ve had this virus which has affected my lungs, and I just haven’t been able to train. “It’s been a frustrating

few months as I had trouble with my achilles tendon in Europe, then on my return home. “As a consequence, I haven’t the background of running I need to race well.” Walker said he would also have to change his plans to race in the United States next month. He was to have had five mile races - one on the road and four indoors - between February 1 and 21. “I may still go to the States if I can recover sufficiently from this illness. But I wouldn’t be able to race until late February.” Walker is in something of a bind about qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. He easily achieved the 1500 metres qualifying standard several times in Europe last year, and is still one of New Zealand’s few world-ranked athletes. Although a gold medal in Edinburgh is probably beyond the 1976 Olympic champion, he must be a medal contender in the 1500 metres if he can get back to the form he showed in Europe last year. New Zealand’s qualifying standards for Edinburgh are expected to be achieved between October 1, 1985 and April 1 this year. Another games hopeful, Geoff Shaw, will make another attempt on the Edinburgh 5000 metres standard of 13min 35s at East Coast Bays Stadium next Tuesday evening.