Sly Upstages Budd--for 17 Seconds--and Wins Phoenix Race

“Zola is always being whisked off somewhere,” Wendy Sly said of her British teammate, Zola Budd, at the Continental Homes 10K Saturday.

And, sure enough, Budd was whisked from a secluded warm-up area to the start of the race. She was escorted throughout the 6.2 miles by two motorcycle officers. Moments after the race, plainclothes police whisked Budd to a waiting van. Two hours later, Budd returned to the finish line for a press conference and awards ceremony. After that, you guessed it, she was whisked away.

Such was the concern for the former South African runner’s security that two divisions of Phoenix police were on hand to ensure her safety.

As it happened, Budd’s greatest threat came from a quarter that the police were helpless to patrol. Sly, the silver medalist in the Olympic 3,000-meters (the race that made Budd a household name), was a last-minute entrant. She slipped into town last Wednesday after inquiring about a world-record bonus.

The only bonus for Sly Saturday was that--for 17 seconds at least--she upstaged Budd, the 18-year-old whose shadow has dimmed the gleam of Sly’s silver medal.

This time, it was Sly who dimmed Budd. Sly broke away with three miles to go and won in a time of 32 minutes 3 seconds. Budd was second in 32:20.

Budd, whose best time in the 10K is 31:42, ran a strong, controlled race, but could not keep pace with Sly.

There were no great upheavals. No anti-apartheid demonstrators showed up. Fan attendance was about the same as in years past. There was no lunge-at-the-tape finish, and no world record. Grete Waitz, with her 31:00, will hold on to that for a while longer.

Sly blamed the race structure for the slow times. Her best time is 31:29. For security reasons and to accommodate the media, the women’s race started 15 minutes before the men’s.

“I hope they don’t do it again,” Sly said. “I had to run the last two miles all alone. I like having the men around.”

That remark grated on some of the women runners. While most agree that the faster men pull the women along, they also argue that women should be able to pace themselves.

Sly was not finished with sharp remarks. Like 3,000-meter gold medalist Maricica Puica, Sly believes the Olympic collision between Budd and Mary Decker Slaney has gotten more attention than the medal-winning performances.

“I hope my win proves a point,” Sly said. “Somehow, the whole thing has gotten blown out of proportion. I feel very sorry for Puica, Lynn Williams (the bronze medalist) and myself. I’m sure that 99% of the people think that Budd won a medal in the Olympics.

“I just hope everyone sees it straight; she’s a very talented 18-year-old, nothing more. People are trying to hang medals around her neck.”

Budd, who came into into the crowded interview room flanked by plainclothes police officers, seemed relaxed and happy during the post-race press conference.

“I expected it to be a hard race,” she said. “I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to run. The first half of the race was really too fast. I’m not used to running so fast at first. I think I have gained good running experience here.

“I thought the spectators were very nice. I am very glad that this was a normal race and there wasn’t any disturbance. I am glad of that. I enjoyed it.”

In her last competitive race, Budd was forced off the course at the British cross-country championships by anti-apartheid demonstrators.

In the men’s race, John Treacy, Mark Nenow and Simeon Kigen sprinted the last 500 meters in a dramatic finish.

Treacy, the Irish silver medalist in the Olympic marathon and considered the slowest of the three runners, out-kicked the pack to win in 27:46. Nenow, who has the world 10K best on the roads of 27:22, was second in 27:48. Kigen, from Kenya, was third in 27:51.

“I’ve run three indoor races and I’ve used them to work on my speed,” Treacy said. “Indoor races really make you sharp. I thought I had a very good shot at winning. The two people I feared turned out to be the last two. The race went according to plan.”