Athletes urged to keep edge

Press, 14 September 1988, Page 50

Athletes urged to keep edge

PA Wellington The acclaimed athletics mentor, Arthur Lydiard, urges athletes to keep sight of their programmes and not lose their edge in the leadup to Olympic competition. . The 71-year-old, living in retirement on the coast north of Auckland, rails against many aspects of “state of the art” training, based more often than not on physiological evaluations with input from a host of “sports experts.” Among competitors in SebuL who sought Mr Lydiard’s advice is the aspiring backstroker, Paul Kingsman. ; ; ■ "Paul came to see me before he left,” Mr Lydiard said. “He wanted to talk about his training. He didn’t want to make the mistake so many of them do going into an event like the Olympics, of getting into a quandary and losing sight of the objective of a particular training regimen. “Invariably many will go out and do too much speed work, and lose that edge. It happens to quite a lot of good athletes. Many of them need reassurance and guidance in the right direction in the weeks prior to an event. “It’s crucial they maintain discipline, and stick to their programmes through that period.” ■ Mr Lydiard had a hand in preparation of two medallists at the Los Angeles games. He acted as adviser to the triple canoeing gold medallist, lan Ferguson, and pentathlon silver medalist • Lousy, an American

for whom he has set training regimens for some years. “Greg was 32 come the Games. He’d been told he was too old, but made the team and did well enough for silver. “I set out a basic programme for lan, who’d come to me and asked how to get a balanced buildup.” Mr Lydiard believes the bulk of the Seoul track events are “cut and dried.” He expects Said Aouita to dominate the events he will ; contest, more than likely the 1500 m and 5000 m; Carl Lewis, “the better ' allround athlete”, to beat Ben Johnson in the 100 m, and Americans to dominate the one-circuit events.

Of the New Zealand contingent, he rates the decathlete, Simon Poelman and the 10,000 m entrant, Anne Audain, best medal chances. “Poelman must rate as best chance. He’s been up training in the United States, where they have the best sprint and weight coaches, and is still on that upward development arc. “Audain would be the next best prospect. She was badly advised to attempt the marathon in L.A.; she should have been in the 3000 m. “She’s worked on her muscular endurance since and should be well suited by the 10,000 m in Seoul.” He believes! the marathoner John Campbell will be one of the best prepared in the field, but may not have the ability “to match- the Japanese or I ■'• B