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Show Marathon record-holder has a Park City connection '-.'.:- it y Texas which included the Olympic marathon victor Carlos Iiipes. and ran a so-so eighth in a very unorganized 10K race in I.o"s Angeles. Jones was running so well that it was rumored he might lead the Chicago Marathon through the first 1 5 miles at a world record pace. Race director Boh Bright knew he had a fast course and the most impressive field of runners on paper next only to the Olympic Marathon. Rob de Castella, the marathon favorite at the Olympics, and Carlos Lopes the winner of the Olympic Marathon, promised a fast time. W ith this caliber of runners amassed under ideal running conditions, the word was out that an attempt would be made by the favorites for a new world record. Now for most people who tackle the 26.2 mile marathon distance it is a balancing act between running too hard early in the race and "hitting the wall" and running out of gas, or going out too conservatively and saving enough energy and leg stamina to go out dancing and partying after the race. What Steve Jones did was watch the leaders move along at a relatively fast pace and stayed back just a couple of strides to keep in contact. As a world class 5,000 and 10,000 meter runner, he definitely had the speed to stay with anyone in the field in the early going of the race. But what would happen at 20 miles, out and farther, when the marathon race really starts? The news commentators covering the race had been around the running scene for several years. They had opinions and strategies figured for almost all the seeded competitors near the front. About the 20 mile mark this man from Wales shocked everyone as the pace began to quicken. The other competitors worked in vain to try to stay with Steve; one by one they dropped from the furious pace. It is a bit uncommon to see a runner of little marathon experience try such a bold move against such seasoned distance runners. The commentators began to question each other about the new leader and started digging for some more information on this "relative unknown." un-known." Within a short period of time he had literally dropped this talented field and was on his way to a possible world record. However, the sweet fluid stride was now starting to labor as the cool rainy weather and fatigue started to take their toll. With his closest competitor now a minute behind Steve had to push on by himself in his most efficient stride possible. In the last miles the crowds along the course were cheering and pulling for this courageous competitor. competi-tor. A slight smile crept onto his face. An incredibly strong finish brought Steve Jones, a 28-year-old flight mechanic in the Royal Bntish Air Force, a new world record for the marathon in a time of 2:08:05. He had eclipsed by 8 seconds the record which had been held by Alberto Salazar of the United States for a couple of years. In an interview alter the race, Salazar very openly expressed his respect for the new marathon record-holder, who is a rather quiet, soft-spoken gentleman. As a footnote, Steve still considers himself a 10,000 meter runner and plans to run one marathon a year. He is already planning on coming back to Park City next September to train and defend his crown at Chicago. In , 1983 Hugh Jones from England and Steve also trained here in the fall with Hugh placing second in the Chicago Marathon and pocketing $14,000 for his efforts. Steve's earnings for the victory included $35,000 for the win and an additional $25,000 for the world record. Steve Jones you read the sports page you may already be aware that Steve Jones of Wales won the America's Marathon in Chicago Sunday and set a world record in the process. What you may not know is that Jones spent the five weeks prior to the race training in the Park City area. Here is the story of Jones' triumph, as seen by Pat Manning, president of the Park City Running Club. by Pat Manning After running eighth in the finals of the Olympic 10,000 meter event in August, Steve Jones picked up his mileage, trained smart and stayed healthy. Arriving in Park City on Sept. 12, he felt he was already more fit than he was at the Olympics and was ready to push himself even harder. On four different weekends Jones ran races ranging from 10,000 meters up to a half marathon (13.1 miles) to sharpen his form. He won in San Francisco against 12,000 participants, in Dayton, Ohio against 4500 competitors, placed second against a very classy field in El Paso, |