Moller wins marathon

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 38

Moller wins marathon

NZPA-AP Osaka, Japan Lorraine Moller, of New Zealand, took the lead after 31.5 km and won the 1986 Osaka International Women’s Marathon yesterday in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds, more than four minutes ahead of Japan’s Eriko Asai.

It was the 30-year-old Moller’s twelfth career marathon victory. She finished fifth at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Early in the 41.2 km race, Julie Brown and Lisa Larsen Weidenbach, both of the United States, ran in a group with Moller and Asai until the 10km point. Then Brown took the lead and she was about 200 metres ahead of Moller and Asai at the 21km point. Weidenbach, the Boston marathon winner, from Battle Creek, Michigan, fell back.

But Moller gradually

caught up and passed Brown at the 31.5 km mark. Brown, one of the pre-race favourites, retired 38.23 km into the race with a cramp in the left leg. Moller said afterwards, “I am pleased to win. The race started fast but I kept my own pace. When I passed Julie, she didn’t respond. I thought she would follow me, but she didn’t. From that point on, I knew that I would finish in front of her, but I was worried about other runners behind me who I couldn’t see.” Results:—

Lorraine Moller (N.Z.) 2 hours 30 minutes 24 seconds,, 1; Eriko Asai (Japan), 2:34:47, 2; Rita Marchisio (Italy), 2:35:41, 3; Laurie Crisp (United States), 2:36:24, 4; Ria Van Landegehem (Belgium), 2:37:27, 5; Emma Scaumich (Italy), 2:38:40, 6; Susan Stone (Canada), 2:39:02, 7; Mami Fukao (Japan), 2:39:03, 8; Lisa Larsen Weidenbach (U.S.), 2:39:10, 9; Karolina Szabo (Hungary), 2:39:39, 10.