South African-born Zola Budd withdrew from next...

South African-born Zola Budd withdrew from next week’s world cross country championships in New Zealand, staving off a boycott threat.

On the day before the British team was to leave for the March 26 event in Auckland, Budd said she was pulling out “with sadness and regret” for the benefit of her fellow competitors.

British track authorities had tried hard to keep Budd on the team despite pressure from the sport’s governing body, which had been notified that at least three African nations--Kenya, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe--would boycott Auckland if the runner competed.