Walkers underdogs

Press, 31 July 1986, Page 28

Walkers underdogs

From

Rod Dew

New Zealand’s two representatives in the 30km road walk at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, early tomorrow morning (N.Z. time), Graham Seatter and Murray Day, both of Christchurch, are very much the underdogs. And that is a position both are quite happy being in.

Neither is ranked in the first six, although they are potentially as good as anyone else in the world-class field. A modest improvement could put either — or both — among the medals.

Day finds himself in a unique position. He will have his coach right with him, hopefully for much of the jounrey. His coach is Seatter, who represented New Zealand in the walk at the Edmonton Games, drifted into retire-

ment, and was then persuaded to resume serious racing through his involvement as Day’s coach. Tomorrow they will be rivals, but they will also help each other as much as is possible. Where the help will end and the rivalry begin will depend largely on how the race develops. The favourite is the topranked road walker in the world, Dave Smith, of Australia. He has another top Australian, Willi Sawall, to help with the pace. Sawall holds fifth ranking, so cannot be discounted as a medal prospect. .

The course is of the out-and-back variety, and very exposed. In spite of this, any walker with his eye on gold should be thinking in terms of 2hr Bmin.