Track and Field Roundup : Zola Budd Wins 3,000 in 8:44.55; Ovett Loses

Zola Budd posted the fastest women’s 3,000-meter time in the world this year, but British middle-distance runners Steve Ovett and Steve Cram were both beaten in an international track and field meet at Gateshead, England, Saturday.

Budd, 19, running barefoot as usual, was timed in 8 minutes 44.55 seconds in a meet against France and Czechoslovakia.

Jarmila Kratochvilova, the world record-holder in the women’s 400 and 800 meters, won the 200 in 22.73 and the 400 in 51.88, helping Czechoslovakia take the women’s competition with 118 points, followed by Britain with 110 and France with 84.

In the men’s division, France scored 155 1/2 points to Britain’s 148 1/2 and Czechoslovakia’s 118.

Budd, bouncing back from a 3,000-meter loss at Belfast, Ireland, Monday night, led all the way and won by 60 meters.

Ovett, the world record-holder at 1,500 meters, misjudged a slow-paced race over that distance and was beaten by compatriot Chris McGeorge in 3:50.50.

“I haven’t done any real speed work this season, so I wasn’t too disappointed,” Ovett said.

Scot Tom McKean sped past Olympic 1,500 silver medalist Cram in the stretch and won the men’s 800 meters in a personal best of 1:47.25.

It was Cram’s second 800-meter loss in eight days. Two days ago, however, he ran the third-fastest 1,500 meters ever, 3:31.34, at Oslo.

Maryanne Torrellas of Clinton, Conn., set an American record in the women’s 5-kilometer walk with a time of 22 minutes 51.10 seconds as the United States dominated West Germany on the first day of their weekend meet at Bremen, West Germany.

Both teams were hit by injuries or withdrawals of top stars. The Americans won all but 3 of the 19 events contested Saturday.

American men took 10 of 12 events for a 77-49 lead, while U.S. women won 6 of 7 for a 45-28 lead.

Cool temperatures and intermittent rain hampered performances, and kept the crowd to about 10,000.

In the absence of two-time Olympic champion and world record-holder Edwin Moses, his long-time rival, European record-holder Harald Schmid, easily won the men’s 400-meter hurdles in 48.96 seconds.

The other victory for the German men came in the discus, but Rolf Danneberg was upset by teammate Alwin Wagner, who had a best mark of 206 feet 4 inches to the Olympic champion’s 203-11.

Mike Morris was clocked in 10.16 seconds in the 100-meter dash, leading a 1-2 finish for the American men. Lee McNeil was second in 10.25.

Another 1-2 for the American men came in the 1,500 meters, Todd Harbour winning in 3:44.48 and Frank Assuma placing second in 3:44.58.

Billy Olson, the American indoor record-holder, and Joe Dial, the American outdoor record-holder, tied for first place in the pole vault at 17-4 1/2.

In women’s events, Diane Dixon took the 400 in 51.59, Carol Cady threw the discus 197-11, and Pam Marshall won the 100 in 11.32 for the United States.