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Dick Quax
Inducted in 1990
From 1500 metres to the marathon, Dick Quax was one of the outstanding New Zealand and world athletes through the 70s.
Sporting Category:
  • Athletics
He first made his international mark at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970 when he was the only athlete who could foot it with the great Kenyan, Kip Keino, in the 1500 metres, and won the silver medal.

Injury and form lapses dogged Quax’s career but all came right for him in 1976 and 1977 when he was second to Lasse Viren in the 5000 metres at the Montreal Olympics and in Stockholm in 1977, he set a world 5000 metres record.

Quax had also taken time out from the track to help New Zealand win the world cross-country team title in 1975 and later in his career, turned to the road to run a debut marathon in 2h 11min 13sec, the fastest in the world for a first-timer.

He had also combined for two other world records, the four by one mile relay (the last to be recognised for the distance) and the four by 1500m relay (which wasn’t recognised because one of the opposing runners ran a leg without the baton).

Quax continued his involvement in athletics as a successful coach and promoter.

Sporting Spotlight

Eight, 1971-72

(1971 - 1972)

The success of the New Zealand rowing eight at the Munich Olympics in 1972, the same eight that had won the European championship the year before, was one of those wins that seem to transcend sport.
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