1978 Commonwealth Games 100m - Sonia Lannaman

[MrStevecro]

(goodness knows why this post was removed..the same person voted 100 times?)

Boyle was an incredable athlete and proved it over many major champs she should have been olympic champ in 72 but drug cheating stecher took that honour away from her. Don't confuse talent with success though ! Australia had a very professional and successful system of coaching and preparing its top sports people compared with the UK. The Aussies were light years ahead of the UK. etc

[westfaner]

Don't know where you get your informantion from. Australia adopted Canadia approach to sport after the 76 Olympic games. There was no assistance or carded program for their athletes at all... until after 78. It has much improved over the years.. but Raelene Boyle was sheer talent my friend ! This professional system you are talking about in the before the 80's is quite a laugh .. really !

[karrtt1234]

@westfaner Your absolutely right, and Canadian athletes got some assistance from the goverment (the carded program/established by Treudeau), but they were much like Australia had to work and train after work... get your own coaches. The Australians that showed up in 76 were completely ignored by their goverment and feredations !

[markguest36]

sonia what a talent is there a video of womens 4x100m relay?

[Marchjoy1963]

Although she wouldn't have won this race Raelene started her lean very early as you can clearly see, when she realized she would get there in time. Her time her could have been better than it was. She did the same in Montreal and was looking over a the rest of the field and she could have shaved a few 100ths of her time there.Probably running 11.20 instead of 11.23, it would have changed her place but it would have been her fastest time at sea level.

[PKCW22]

Boyle was not as good in the 400s though. Her top time was 51.25s. That was way behind others who moved up like Irena Szewinska, Irina Privalova and too a certain extent, not even as good as Betty Cuthbert (considering Cuthbert broke the 400m WR at 52s at the then poor trainig/technology time).

[shottut]

Actually her top time was 50.80 and she took the event up late in her career, after several operations and injuries; because the shorter sprint were too much stess on her legs. She was split timed in Munich at 49.8, on the second leg in the 4 x 400 m relay for Australia, which was faster than Zhert won was split timed in 50.4 who was the gold medalist.

[shottut]

stress on her legs (must stop typing so fast). sorry

[shottut]

and that should Zerht, I think.

[PKCW22]

Wonder if anyone got the video for the Munich women's 4x400, to see how Raelene did.

By the way, Szewinska, Privalova and Cuthbert also moved up to the 400s quite late but they all did better than Raelene. They excelled in the world scene. In a way, Raelene could not match the world standard in terms of the 400s.

[shottut]

Privalova .. not a good example anyone from Russia or East Germany .. is not a good example ..drug cheats !!!! There is video of the Munich 4 x 100 , and some of the 4 x 400 but I have watch looking for the second leg and there isn't any real footage that I have seen thus far.

[PKCW22]

Szewinska from Poland was also a Eastern-Bloc athlete. She excelled moving up to the 400s in her late 20s or early 30s and did 49.29s in 1976. No one ever questioned whether her ability was due to drugs. She seemed a clean Eastern-Bloc athlete. Raelene was in Szewinska's leaque in the 100s and 200s, but no way comparable in the 400s. In such a way, Raelene was not as good.

[shottut]

@PKCW22 , And ???

[jackacw]

At the 2010 commonwealth Games it will be all Jamaica in the sprints, ENG vs. Jam in the 400m will be good.

[karrtt1234]

Sonia Lannaman was not ranked 2nd in the world in 1978, she was ranked 8th, Behind Olsner, Rticher, Haglund, Ashford, Kock, Maslakova & Hamann, with Hodges and Rega ... Finishing the top 10 for 78 in the 100 meters.

[karrtt1234]

Further the Australian system didn't even get her (here) to Edmonton. Some paid for her to come..privately I can't remember her name.. doesn't sound very professional or successfull to me. I know they have a good system now, but not many Raelene's...

[karrtt1234]

I don't think that Australia had a great program when Raelene was running and even if they did, I don't see what that has to do with it, many people believe sprinters shouldn't train every day & they don't train them hard everyday anyway.

But in her book Raelene talk about finding sponsors and calling up Shirley Strickland to ask her to take her on, she had to move herself to were Shirley lived. It is not like there was some clinic like they have now and still, the athlete has to play by rules

[karrtt1234]

I think Raelene was more talented than Sonia also unbeatable in the commonwealth at 200metres, and just as unlucky with injuries as Sonia (like here) and her official in Australia always causing her grieve - the 1977 world cup - that was ridiculous she was robbed of 2 medals there, and in Montreal at the 200 metres she was fastest in the world going into the games... and she didn't false start - the replay showed that robbed again ..

[jokerwildest]

For sure, not a question, Raelene Boyle in the greatest woman sprinter in the history of the commonwealth (especially of her generation).

[gheko1]

Yeah right thats why Raelene was going to quit Australia in 74, because of stupid officials. In the 70s Australia were very amateur.

[athlete5399]

Indeed, the UK did not have great systems in place which proves how naturally talented Sonia Lannaman was. She only trained 3 times a week due to having other commitments. So to run that fast on that basis was quite incredible! 100m 11.20 (10.93w) and 22.58

[gheko1]

Sonia was the best on the day but you cannot compare her to Boyle, who won the 100, 200, and 4x100m on 1970 and 1974, and the 400m in 82.

[athlete5399]

Absolutely not, and I'm not. Raelene Boyle was an all-time great for a long time! Sonia was good on the day and was unfortunately to suffer injuries at the worst times (prior to the 1976 Olympics and 1978 Europeans). She was up there with the best when not injured!

[gheko1]

More talented? Boyle was a seven time Commonwealth Gold Medallist and a three time silver medallist at the Olympics!

[athlete5399]

Sonia also had her problems prior to this race. Raelene was not quite up to scratch at that time to an in-form Sonia Lannaman

[gheko1]

Pity Raelene had an injury, At her best she would have blitzed this.

[iliveinbedford]

that waznt as fast as how sonia usually can go she needen sum1 2 push her hard but there wasnt no 1 2 push her