INTRODUCTION Before a crowd of more than seven thousand people on Wednesday (2 February), two Polish runners gave top Australian athletes the toughest competition in the 1977 Melbourne Games in the Australian State of Victoria.

SYNOPSIS: The Games were held in the Olympic Park Stadium, and the first race in which there was major international competition was the ladies hundred metres sprint. The spectators were anticipating a close finish between Australia's Raelene Boyle and Poland's Irena Szewinska.

At the tape it was Boyle first, Lyn Jacenko of Australia second, and Szewinska third.

The second big race with international interest was the men's three thousand metre steeplechase. The main protagonists were Bronislaw Malinowski of Poland, and Bob Hendy of Australia. Also in the field was Australia's Olympic athlete, Peter Larkins. Shortly after the start Hendy took the lead, intent on establishing as much air space as possible between him and the Pole.

But Malinowski would not let him get away with it, and after a rugged struggle Poland's silver medallist at the Montreal Olympics led the field.

Hendy's bid had not lasted long. Malinowski was leading and in full command of the race as they entered the second of the seven laps. With only two-and-a-half laps to go, he had built up an unbeatable lead
Nearly on the point of exhaustion, Hendy finished second behind Malinowski, with the Pole trotting round the track almost as fresh as when he had started. His time -- eight minutes twenty-four point six seconds -- broke both State and National records.