Marathon star to leave N.Z.

Press, 12 May 1979, Page 25

Marathon star to leave N.Z.

PA Auckland The top New Zealand marathon runner, Kevin Ryan, is to move to the United States with his wife and family.

Ryan, aixth in the last two Boston marathons, and a national representative at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and last year’s Edmonton Commonwealth Games, has been offered an attractive position with the new Balances Shoe Company which has its headquarters in Boston. He stayed on after this year’s Boston marathon, held on April 16, speaking about the New Zealand training methods at sports clinics and running in a number of road races on Atlantic coast.

His wife, Jeanette, has been with him for the last month but

has now returned to Auckland. “Kevin should be back in about three weeks, but we will be moving to Boston between September and January for two to five years,” Mrs Ryan said. “Kevin will be employed by the new Balance Shoe Company, promoting its training and racing shoes and speaking at sports clinics, as he has been doing recently. “The Job will be ideal for Kevin and he is as keen as ever to continue his running career. It will enable him to train as long and whenever he likes." Ryan Is anxious to represent New Zealand at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, according to Mrs Ryan, and. if necessary, will return home to qualify.