World Cross Country Championships Women’s Team

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World Cross Country Championships Women’s Team's Story
When the New Zealand women’s team headed overseas for the 1975 World Cross Country Championships in Rabat it was probably the greatest collection of female endurance runners the country had ever mustered for an international event – it was just that we did not know it at the time.
Apart from experienced 29-year-old skipper Heather Matthews, MBE, (then Thomson), who was to win 3000m silver at the 1978 Commonwealth Games; the four remaining squad members were teenagers all of whom were to go on to enjoy glorious careers.
This special group included Anne Audain, MBE, (then Garrett), who had finished ninth as a 17-year-old at the 1973 World Cross Country Championships and sixth in the 1500m at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. Aged only 19 at the time, she was on the cusp of a glittering career which would see the Aucklander later strike Commonwealth 3000m gold and carve out a reputation as one of the world’s leading road runners.
It also included Lorraine Moller, MBE, who had made her international debut at the 1974 Commonwealth Games, and who would later win three Commonwealth medals, the 1984 Boston Marathon and most memorably marathon bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Joining this golden generation of athletes in Rabat was Allison Roe, MBE, (then Deed) – who would later emerge as one the world’s premier marathon runners in 1981 securing both the Boston and New York City Marathons.
The team was rounded out by Dianne Rodger (then Zorn), who would go on to appear at two Olympic Games; finishing ninth in the women’s 3000m at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Yet despite the hugely exciting potential in the team, when the quintet departed New Zealand, they did so to little fanfare.
“We didn’t really have any expectations,” explains Heather.
“But we knew the team was special, not only in terms of its talent and future potential, but also the camaraderie within the team.
“It just gelled, and we become lifelong friends. Not just with the women but the men’s team who won the (team) gold medal. It was full of good personalities. We were like a family.”
Part of the special bond among the team was forged in adversity.
Often faced with basic accommodation, a challenging training environment, a tough travel plan involving buses, boat and planes and a cultural chasm – particularly in Morocco – the trip was far from easy, but with the innocence and naivety of youth the athletes took it in their stride.
“The motto of the team was ‘don’t panic’ because we were put in many difficult travel situations,” explains Anne. “We flew from Auckland to Tahiti on then on to LA – where we spent a day in Disneyland. We then went to Paris before spending two weeks in Spain.
“Here we changed hotels several times because it wasn’t working for us. We then settled in Estepona – where the Swedes had a training camp – where we discovered nightclubs and had a lot of fun. We then caught a bus to Gibraltar, a boat to Tangiers and a train to Rabat. What international team would travel like that these days?”
Anne recalls the team was full of “mischief” and Heather recalls a prime example of the antics which came to typify the team after they were taken to the wrong hotel in Seville in southern Spain.
“While the team manager went off to find the right hotel, we were sent upstairs in the hotel to relax,” she adds. “We were a bit bored, so we started a pillow fight but ended up smashing a bedside lamp. The guys had been jumping up and down on the bed and broke the frame. We put in the money to pay for repairs, but although it was stupid, it was funny and summed up the atmosphere in the team at that time.”
The training options were sometimes limited. While in Seville they were forced to train in an area where rabid dogs menacingly roamed.
They later moved hotels but as Anne admits: “We tried our best to train – running on highways, anywhere we could find to train but it was difficult. The blessing was we had left New Zealand in good shape off the track and field season, so we didn’t need to do too much to maintain fitness.”
The team warmed up for their World Cross Country challenge by competing at the Spanish Cross Country Championships in thick mud. Heather claimed a confidence boosting victory from Carmen Valero, the Spanish distance runner, who would later claim two world cross country titles.
The team then travelled by train and boat to make it to Morocco. For the entire team it was their first time in Africa, and it did present certain cultural challenges.
“It was mainly the food,” explains Heather. “We were just not used to those spicy foods. During my time in Morocco I probably lived off Coca Cola and potato chips. Although whatever I did (with my nutrition), it worked.”
Anne jokes that for four days they lived off bread and honey because of the lack of familiarity with the local food.
The race day itself at Souissi Racecourse served up one of the most memorable days in the history of New Zealand athletics.
The nine-strong men’s team, which included Sir John Walker and Dick Quax, delivered team gold while the women’s team also enjoyed an outstanding performance.
With a trio of Kiwis prominent from the early stages – Lorraine, Heather and Anne – optimism rose the New Zealand team could feature on the podium in either the battle for individual medals or a team spot.
In the 4.2km race, which was won by American Julie Brown, an individual medal would prove just out of grasp as Lorraine came home fifth in 13:53 – just five seconds from the medal positions – with Heather eight seconds behind her team-mate in sixth.
“I remember the conditions underfoot were appalling,” recalls Heather. “Our shoes were caked in clay by the time we finished. My feet were so heavy I could hardly lift my feet. It was a strength and stamina course not a speed course.”
With Anne the third Kiwi counter home in tenth, optimism started to rise of a team medal in which the first four New Zealand women contributed to the team total. Allison was the next New Zealander home in 29th with Dianne in 51st.
Anne admits that although she was pleased with her individual effort, hopes of a team gold quickly receded.
“Because we had three in the top ten, we initially thought we would win gold,” says Anne. “We were then just waiting for the fourth (and final) counter whether it was Dianne or Allison. We quickly added up the Americans had won by six points (USA 44 to New Zealand 50) and we had to settle for silver.”
Reflecting on the 1975 World Cross Country Championships, the team are justifiably immensely proud. In fact, both Heather and Anne insist such was the special nature of the accomplishment it will be near impossible to replicate.
“For the men to win team gold and the women team silver (at the World Cross) has never been repeated and we’ll probably never have a team of that depth and quality again,” explains Heather.
“That trip is something I will never forget. We are still all firm friends today – we were like blood brothers.”
Anne echoes Heather’s thoughts by adding: “The 1975 team was the most talented team to ever leave New Zealand, both male and female.”
“It was such a crazy trip; you could make a comedy out of it. But the reason why we were able to perform at our best was born out of the difficult circumstances we faced and that we were able to laugh about it. The psychological benefits of that trip were just as important as the physical in being able to deliver.”