I now can't remember if it was the 3K or the 1500 in Helsinki where Decker outkicked the two Soviets to the line (with Kazankina, I believe, making a dramatic but vain dive)....I think you are referring to the 1500m. I had the good fortune to attend that meet in Helsinki, and Mary Decker outkicked Soviets in both races. She also ran from the front in both races, and in the 3K she battled Kazankina down the stretch. Decker found another gear a pulled away with a surge. The West German Brigette Kraus passed Kazankina for second place after Decker had put her away.
A few days later in the 1500m final, all three Soviet runners took turns in the last 200m challenging for the lead from the front-running Decker. Mary held off the first two bids, but the top Soviet 1500m runner of the moment, Zamira Zaitseva, passed Mary off the final turn and pushed into the lead. Mary didn't give up but dug down and battled back, step for step, all the way down the stretch passing the Russian just before the line. Zaitseva desperately dove in an attempt to hang on to the win but failed and painfully skinned her face on the track surface.
This was one year before Mary's prickly personality became publicly known, and many years before she tested positive, so her reputation was unsullied in those days. So that Little Mary had twice turned back the Big Bad Soviets caused the crowd to go absolutely nuts. The wild cheering went on and on. The crowd was still buzzing 20 minutes later.
Those were the days....
Kurt Bray
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