Moller and Dixon: Giants of NZ Running
I was around 10 years old when I went to an athletics meeting at Cooks Gardens in Wanganui. The purpose was to see two of my heroes race – John Walker and Rod Dixon. Armed with a sparking new autograph book I entered the stadium and saw two seven foot tall men walking up the hill near me. The ground shook with each step and the air around them sparked with electricity. Trembling, I made my way to them and stuck the book and pen in front of John Walker. He looked down and thundered; “What do you say boy?”. A very small “please” was all I could mutter. I then made my way to Rod Dixon, whose whole face smiled (including the GREAT moustache). He signed his name – patted me on the back – and had a fan for life.
I became enamored with athletics in 1974 when two remarkable races occurred at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. In the opening track event Dick Tayler won in spectacular style in a time that still ranks as the 7th fasted 10,000m time by a NZ male. Then, in the 1500m for men the great Tanzanian, Filbert Bayi, won (in world record time) after being chased by John Walker (2nd) and Rod Dixon (4th).
I was 8 years old in 1974 and slow to realise that wonderful things had happened in NZ distance running prior to my awakening. USA’s Jesse Owens was, rightfully, the most celebrated athlete of Hitler’s 1936 Berlin Olympics. However, we should be forever proud of Jack Lovelock wining the 1500m – as commentated by Harold Abrahams of Chariots of Fire fame.
During the late 1940s and 1950s Arthur Lydiard experimented on himself to test the endurance running theories that he had developed. He transformed himself from a smoking, drinking, casual athlete in his thirties to being a multiple national title winner and 1950s Empire Games Marathon Runner. He is remembered as one of the world’s great athletics coaches and was even credited by two incredible Dutch swimmers at the Sydney Olympics for influencing their programmes. He was responsible for coaching up to 15 Olympic gold medals across multiple nations – but especially for mentoring 21 year old Peter Snell (800m) and Murray Halberg (5000m) to Rome Olympic Gold medals one hour apart – as well as Barry Magee earning a bronze in the marathon.
More was to follow in 1964 with Snell gold medals in the 800m and 1500m, and John Davies finishing third in the 1500m. On the women’s side Marise Chamberlain won the bronze medal in the 800m. In 1968 Mike Ryan won a bronze in the marathon and then in 1972 21 year old Rod Dixon burst onto the world running scene with a bronze medal in the 1500m.
Lydiard did not coach all of these athletes but was no doubt influential. In the early 2000s, while doing some post-graduate work I got to spend a day with Arthur Lydiard to talk through a range of things. He remained deeply knowledgeable and inspirational. When I got home I put on my running shoes and headed out around One Tree Hill – where he had trained so many athletes. His international influence is incredible to the extent that, when the great USA coach – Bill Bowewman – was with him in NZ Bowerman asked his plan on one day and Lydiard said that he was taking a group for a “jog”. The term became synonymous with a world-wide revolution.
New Zealand is a small place. My son’s coach, and my close friend, Jack Ralston, was a Lydiard runner. Through that connection my son got to spend a weekend in Texas with Sir Peter Snell and his wife Miki. At Jack Ralston’s funeral in 2012 Rod Dixon was the main speaker. Rod and I have been friends since then.
Jack used to tell a wonderful story that, when he was a teenager running with the Lydiard group, it was early season and they did the 22 mile “Waitarura”. Jack caught up to Snell in Titirangi and Snell told him to ask Lydiard to get someone to pick him up. Jack arrived at Lydiard’s home and converyed the message. Lydiard asked Jack how he got there. Jack responded … “on my legs”. Lydiard said … “well Snell can do the same.” When Snell finally arrived he expressed his displessure with Jack!
From his 1972 bronze at Munich Dixon became something of the “almost man”. He was fourth in the Bayi Walker 1500m in 1974. When Walker powered home for a gold medal in the 1500m at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 (after setting a world mile record the year before) – Rod Dixon and Dick Quax chose the 5000m. Quax was favoured to win but Lasse Viren of Finland claimed his fourth Olympic Gold (backed by Lydiard) and Dixon was 4th. In the 1978 Commonwealth Games Dixon was favoured to win the 5000m but his specialised shoes were stolen before the final and, on a borrowed pair, he claimed fourth. No NZ runner could compete at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow due to a boycott and Dixon did not go to the 1982 Commonwealth Games (although he was third in the World Cross Country championships).
1983 was when the “almost man” became the legend as Rod Dixon won the New York City Marathon in the most remarkable manner after trailing by over two minutes with 10km to go. It was a fitting achievement for a man who had also dominated 10km road running through the USA for a number of years.
Lorrainne Moller was, similarly, a part of a superb and high achieving group of NZ women runners through the period at Commonwealth, Olympic and international road running and Marathoning. Anne Audain was a triple Olympian, gold and silver medalist at Commonwealth Games level and a world 5000m record holder. At her peak Audain was also dominant in road running in the USA. Alison Roe in 1981 won both the Boston and NYC Marathons.
Like Walker, Dixon and Audain, Lorrain Moller represented NZ in the 1974 Commonwealth Games – at a time when women were not allowed to run more than 800m. She represented NZ at four Olympic in the Marathon with a bronze in Barcelona in 1992. She also won two track bronze medals at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and a silver in the Marathon at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. Of the marathon majors she won Boston in 1984. She was also a world marathon champion and world record holder.
Both Lorraine Moller and Rod Dixon have given plenty back to their sport and in other charity work. Lorraine has also consistently promoted the work and heritage of Arthur Lydiard. Rod Dixon’s Kids Marathon is a wonder success in the USA – and recently in Nelson. At North Harbour Stadium on February 19th this year we will begin a 7 week Kids Marathon event and have other weekly races for older school children and adults (would love any particpation and support).
It was a great privilege for my generation to grow up admiring and being inspired by these remarkable people. Nick Willis, Kimberly Smith and others carried the baton forward and current young people have brilliant athletes such a NZ’s first World Track Champion, Geordie Beamish, our fastest ever woman over 1500m, Maia Ramsden, the world’s youngest ever sub 4-minute miler, Sam Ruthe and double Olympian Sam Tanner. Add to that sprinter Zoe Hobbs, Olympic Gold Medalist in the High Jump, Hamish Kerr, and wonderful Shot Putters Tom Walsh, Maddi Wesche, Lisa Adams and Jacko Gill, pole vaulters Eliza McCartney and Olivia McTaggart – and it is clear that there is plenty for 10 year old NZers today to be as inspired as I was at Cooks Gardens in the 1970s.
alwyn.poole@gmail.com
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