The occasion, the London Olympiades club championships, and the setting, West London Stadium, were a far cry from Mexico City or Athens but Lillian Board might have been contesting a world championship judging by her prerace anxiety last Sunday.
She was about to make her miling debut in a BMC - organised race and she really didn't know what to expect. Her best ¾ mile time trial of 3:37 suggested she should be capable of a little under five minutes at her first attempt, but with someone of Lillian's class and competitive flair there was always a chance of her producing something fairly sensational for a novice. On the other hand there was the dread - which Lillian candidly admitted before the race - of "making a complete fool" of herself.
As it turned out, it was the middle course that prevailed. In third place throughout, she lapped in 71.0, 73.8, 74.8 and 76.1 for a very solid first time effort of 4:55.7 made even more notable by the fact that she ran in the second lane practically throughout as the inside was particularly soft.
Jane Perry, naturally disappointed at her omission from the team for The Hague and eager for a fast race, made the early running, but it was Barbara Banks who led for most of the race. The two Northern girls, who were making round trips of over 400 miles for the race - such is their enthusiasm, opened up a 5-6 yards gap on Lillian that remained fairly constant until they pulled well clear in the final furlong.
Jane overtook Barbara in the straight to win in 4:51.5 against 4:52.8 - personal bests for both, although they have run relatively faster over metres.
Lillian's verdict on the race: a little disappointed she did not win but quite happy and relieved with her performance. "Those were cross-country girls and I'm delighted I could stay up with them as long as I did," she commented. She admitted, though, that she "wasn't in control of the race" and was "not overstruck by this distance," but thought it would do her good. Now she has survived four hard laps (with another mile scheduled against Paola Pigni in Italy today) she believes that from a mental point of view the 800m will seem that much less difficult.
Ends
Source - Athletics Weekly - Saturday, 16/05/1970 by Mel Watman
Ref 2965