If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad. – Jane Austen
Audain Wins Bonne Bell Championships (’82)
Boston, USA. October 11, 1982. – Some 7700 women entered the 6th Annual Bonne Bell 10K Championships. As third-place finisher Francie Larrieu put it, “Just to be a part of the experience was worthwhile.”
Anne Audain’s experience was different than most – running alone after the first mile, the New Zealander covered the route in 31:42. Only Grete Waitz’s 30:59 is faster in road annals. Everyone else in this race was definitely slower.
At the mile, Audain was accompanied by Larrieu, Judi St. Hilaire, Bonnie Tamis and Midde Hamrin. Audain anticipated a five-minute pace, but the tempo was five seconds behind that.
“I planned to stay with the leaders to see what pace they were running,” the Kiwi standout explained. “I had a pace in mind. If someone was with me, I’d have to contend with it. It wasn’t a struggle, but the wind prevented me from running a 5:00 pace.”
Regardless of the wind, Audain completed the second mile in 4:57 and she was on her own. Said Larrieu, “I wasn’t going to let anyone get away from me at the start. But after that surge at mile two, I knew Anne was away.”
Audain passed three miles in 15:03, but on the return leg of the certified loop course, she encountered headwinds. Her four-mile split was only 20:18.
Another factor which may have contributed to the decreased pace was Anne’s recent travel schedule. The Monday before the race, she won the Commonwealth 3000 in Australia. By race time, she had visited Auckland, Fiji, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston.
It’s a wonder the 27-year-old Kiwi could navigate – let alone run 31:42 to notch her twenty-first consecutive road victory. In a row, one after another after another.
Coming closest to keeping Audain company in her first 10K effort on the macadam, Hamrin produced a fine 32:21. In third, Larrieu ran 33:06 to move to Number 9 on the all-time U.S. List.
This report originally appeared in Track & Field News, November, 1982.
What follows did not.
Quite a schedule.
First week 2024, some years later, I asked Anne for an explanation of that arduous itinerary.
“My goal was the Number 1 ranking on roads and a better Nike contract.
In July 1981 I had signed for $400 a month with shoe/ apparel and some travel.
I had no desire to run in the Commonwealth Games, due to still being banned by IAAF (today’s World Athletics). This ban was the result of the 1981 Cascade Runoff’s stand for professionalism, a race I won.
Mid-1982, my coach John Davies started lobbying me to race the 3000m in Brisbane, Australia. He was very persistent and I eventually agreed as long as I could still race the roads and he adjust my training accordingly.
I flew to Australia ten days ahead of the Games, still banned from racing track. John assured me he had been told the ban would be lifted. It was and I finally received my World Record plaque. I won the 3000m Gold, leading from start to finish, becoming the first female New Zealand track athlete to do so.
NZ selectors wanted me to stay and race the 1500m, too, but my goal was still the No. 1 road ranking, so hence the long trip back.
My new Nike contract was for $40,000 a year base with a bonus system for two years.
“The rest is history!”
“Thanks for writing this! Brings back great memories! No other NZ female has ever won a gold since. My coach really had to plead me to race! I will always be grateful to him for doing so!
The entire country stopped to watch live on TV!(3pm on a Monday) I still have folks telling me where they were! John had to commentate for NZTV and stumbled his way through as was so nervous for me! His last instructions to me were’ promise you will not lead the race, it’s too windy!
Regarding the pic! Notice the mag’s date ( 25 Oct). I was still in USA. They took an old photo and we got a Denver photographer to capture my hand holding medal. !!!! There you go!”