A proud John Treacy describes how he battled the elements and saw off the opposition to become World Cross Country Champion.
John Treacy from Villierstown in County Waterford won gold at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, completing the seven and a half mile course in 39 minutes and 25 seconds.
The new world champions spoke to Brendan O'Reilly from RTÉ Sport after his victory. From the outset John Treacy was looking to win because he knew he was in good shape and had the basic speed following a good indoor season in America. At the start of the race he aimed to get away quickly and run with whoever was leading.
He was not intimidated to be running against Aleksandr Antipov of the Soviet Union and the renowned marathon runner Karel Lismont from Belgium.
I was very confident you know, I never get frightened of anyone, I’ve just got to run against them.
His race plan was to bide his time and then, in the last three quarters of a mile
Just go for it, you know.
Running conditions on the course hazardous but that did not worry John as he is a strong runner.
Crossing the finishing line in first place was
The greatest feeling of my life.
The enormity of the win has yet not sunk in for John, but he is understandably very proud of his achievement and he knows his supporters back in Waterford are too.
An RTÉ Sport report broadcast on 25 March 1978. The reporter is Brendan O’Reilly.
