N.Z. 10,000m runner first casualty

Press, 17 July 1986, Page 40

N.Z. 10,000m runner first casualty

NZPA Edinburgh A Havelock North 10,000 m runner, Rex Wilson, has become New Zealand’s first Commonwealth Games casualty eight days before the Games begins in Edinburgh. Wilson has a slipped disc back complaint and was told yesterday by Matt Marshall, the director of medical services, he would not be able to run in the 10,000 m atMeadowbank on July 26. This leaves the 30-year-old Aucklander, John Bowden, who has a slower time, as the sole New Zealander in the 10,000 m. Dr Marshall said Wilson was bitterly disappointed. "It’s a dreadful thing to happen but he has taken it very well indeed. What a sad ending for him after two years of build-up only for some guy to come in and tell you that’s it,” said Dr Marshall. The New Zealand team manager, Bruce Ullrich, said Wilson wanted to be left alone for a couple of days but has been invited to stay on in the village until the Games. “We do have a precedent for this with Chris

Rogers in Brisbane in a similar situation and we asked Chris to stay on then,” said Mr Ullrich.

Wilson’s back problem has built up over the last few weeks while he has been touring and training in Leeds.

“It was an inevitable thing, the more he competed during their camp in Leeds the worse it got,” said Dr Marshall.

Jogging is out of the question as the Jarring effect aggravates his condition which is what has been happening. He can walk around and maybe do a little bit of swimming, but no running.

Dr Marshall said there was no question of Injury before Wilson left for the pre-Games build-up and said he had been running very well.

If an athlete has a slight weakness, however, it will probably come out in a 26-hour flight halfway around the world. Wilson is quite adamant the long flight from New Zealand did not help the flaring of his disc condition and came off the plane very stiff and sore.