Athletics: Not to win, but to take part ...

By CHRIS RATTUE at the Games

Timaru-born Dallas Roberts, who competes against the world's sprint stars, reckons only the great Namibian Frankie Fredericks gets the nod as a decent bloke.

The Dunedin-based Roberts, a primary schoolteacher, helped to make up for years of frustration when he qualified for the 200m semifinals.

The 22-year-old's journey to Manchester has involved spending nearly $8000 of money he does not have.

That money went on a European campaign where he tangled with some of the best as he achieved the Games qualification mark.

"Frankie Fredericks is just so nice," said Roberts of the veteran 200m star with world, Olympic and Commonwealth titles.

"Linford Christie even said hello the other day, but I think's that because I beat one of his runners in Australia.

"They [top sprinters] are very arrogant. They love themselves. But hey, that's part of their sports personality. They have to have that."

The blond Roberts said he was often the only "white guy" in the sprinting bunch in Europe.

"All those Afro boys. I'm the token whitey," he laughed.

The race issue could be a source of humour on the European circuit.

"The longer-distance runners told me the Kenyans call the white runners the European Community.

"If one of the Kenyans drops back they tell him he's running with the European Community," Roberts said.

He took on the European experience when he missed a place in the New Zealand team after running just outside the 20.80s qualifying time.

Roberts and Chris Donaldson, his training partner and good mate, headed to a base at Newcastle for three months.

They stayed with former New Zealand representative Terry Lomax, a high-performance manager for British athletes, sleeping on mattresses on the floor.

Roberts' father, Murray, was a wing in the South Canterbury Ranfurly Shield side of 1974. Dallas not only believed he had some speed in the genes, but enough to do well at Manchester.

And he pumped his fists in delight after finishing the heat that got him into the semifinal, a result he hopes will help to launch his career after five injury-affected years.

"We don't have a history of sprinting, but it's our job to make that history," he said.

At the Games Village, Roberts did a live hook-up with the kids at Kaikoura Primary School where he teaches.

The kids, he says, inspire him.

"I also owe my parents. I shouldn't still be living out of mum and dad's pockets.

"But I just had to give this a go and I've had a sensational few months. I've got another eight years to peak, and if I can hang on for that long. I might even give rugby a go again.

"I'm lucky to have really good employers who give me the time off. I haven't been there a lot this year, although they get a bit back in the publicity.

"The kids love seeing Mr Roberts do well.

" I got quite emotional when I crossed that line. Not everyone can say they've made a Commonwealth Games sprint semifinal, even if I didn't go any further."

Roberts found the going too tough in the semifinals, finishing eighth and last in 21.17s, slower than the 20.96s he ran in his heat behind Fredericks on Monday.

He said he was "absolutely knackered," having been on the road since April.

"When I left Dunedin three months ago I didn't know what was in store. I was never even thinking about a Commonwealth Games semifinal."

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