Athletics: Roe mourns Waitz's passing

New Zealand distance runner Allison Roe has lost a friend as well as an extraordinarily gifted rival with the passing of Norwegian great Grete Waitz.

Waitz died at the age of 57 today after battling cancer since 2005.

A pioneer of women's distance running, she won the New York marathon a record nine times, setting a world record time in her maiden victory in 1978 before posting her last win there in 1988.

Roe, who interrupted Waitz's dominance at New York when she won the celebrated marathon in 1981, said she was deeply saddened by the Norwegian's death.

"She was the most beautiful, humble and one of the most gracious people I ever met.

"It was a real privilege to know her and to race with her," Roe, now 53, told Radio Sport.

Roe said Waitz was an inspirational figure and she took particular pleasure in beating her in 1981.

"She was the world record holder and it was a real thrill to be able to beat her," said Roe, who was at the peak of her powers in 1981 when she won both the New York and Boston marathons.

Waitz transformed women's distance running after New York marathon race director Fred Lebow invited her to compete at the height of the 1970s running boom.

Waitz, who had not previously run on the roads or in the United States or even competed in a half-marathon, set a world best of two hours 32 minutes 30 seconds despite cramping badly at the end.

She set three world best times at New York set a fourth world best of 2hr 25min 29sec in the 1983 London event months before winning the first world marathon title in Helsinki, Finland.

During this period, Waitz was untouchable over the cross country, in which she won five world titles, and on the roads and she attained celebrity status in New York.

She exploded any lingering myths that women could not handle the same workloads as men, running 160km a week in training and headed for Los Angeles in 1984 for the first women's Olympic marathon.

A back injury disrupted her training and she admitted later she was not mentally prepared for a race won by American Joan Benoit Samuelson.

Waitz won the silver in what was to be her only Olympics with injury keeping her out of the 1988 Seoul Games. Her last competitive race resulted in a fourth place finish in the 1990 New York marathon.

"Waitz, hollow-cheeked, running tall, her long, blonde hair pulled in a ponytail behind her head, has carried women's running into the 20th century," wrote Michael Sandrock in his 1996 book "Running with Legends".

"Waitz was a pioneer in all aspects of running: cross country, track and road racing, and her appeal has extended beyond just runners.

"Grete is called a "Norse national treasure" and with her wins came a new enthusiasm for staying in shape, not just in Norway but around the world."

- NZPA