WELLER AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 190, 14 August 1939, Page 14

WELLER AGAIN.

N.Z. HARRIER TITLE. FOURTH VICTORY ON END. PULLAR FINISHES SECOND. (By Telegraph.—Tress Association.) NAPIER, Saturday. Leading all the way, C. Weller (Palmerston North) won the New Zealand crosscountry championship for the fourth successive year, beating W. A. C. Pullar (Ma.sterton) by 75yds. Kennedy (Otago) was third, and A. G. Harding, the Auckland captain. rourt?). A. R. Geddes (Otago) was firth, and Taylor (Hawke's Bay) sixth. The time was 3(5.3.

Otago won the teams championship in a gruelling race with a fast pace set by Weller and Pullar.

Otago teamed excellently throughout, filling five of the ilitsc eleven places.

Popular selections were confounded as the outcome of the race. Pullar was widely expected to capture the championship from Weller, especially as Weller had finished sixth in t'lie Wellington provineian event, it was largely a two-man race, and Weller and Pullar virtually outclassed the field.

A large crowd saw a field of more than 50 runners away from a good clean stait. Weller and l'lillar were prominent from the early stages, and at the end of the firwt mile j'nd a half Weller had a slierht margin over Pullar, with A. R. Geddes (Otago) 200 yds behind.

Weller was still leading at the end of two miles and a half, and though lie seemed ro be feeling the effects of the pace he had a of 20yds on Pullar, who still had a comfortable distance between him and Geddes.

There was no change as the field entered the ground at the end of the first lap, Weller and Pullar being fairly close together 150 yds ahead of Geddes. with the balance of the field spread out over the next 200 yds. and the last few a quarter of a mile behind the leaders, making heavy weather of it.

Weller and Pullar maintained their positions over the second lap. and led liie field to the finishing mark, where a hid crowd cheered them down the filial straight. Once int.) the straight Weller finished strongly to win by 75yds from Pullar. T. Kennedy (Otago) turned 011 a irood finish for third place. T hen came Harding, Geddes. Taylor. Wat.ters, McKinnon nnd Davie. Weller's time was 1-5, Pullav's 30.12 4-5 and Kennedy's 37!12. The teams event was won by Otago.

400 METRES RUN.

WORLD RECORD BY GERMAN. ERANKEORT, August 13. The German Olympian runner. R. Harbig. to-day broke the world's record for the 400 metres. His time was 4Gs.