U.S. OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 12

U.S. OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS

DOMINION TOUR NEXT YEAR “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. October 6. Two United States Olympic champions will tour the Dominion in January next year under the sponsorship of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. They are H. Dillard, the Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion and record-holder, and R. Richards, the Olympic pole vault champion and record-holder. Although Dillard won the 110 metres hurdles at Helsinki in the record time of 13.7 sec, he is noted more for his sensational victory in the 100 metres sprint at the London Olympic Games in 1948. In 1948 he was the world recordholder over the high hurdles, and had won 85 consecutive races. Then, in the American Olympic trials, he faltered, hit three hurdles, and pulled out. Under the United States system, the Olympic trials are final, and Dillard, acknowledged the greatest hurdler in the world, could not be considered for his speciality. But he did not despair; He ran in the 100 metres trial and scraped in third to make the sprint team. At London. Dillard was unbeaten in two heats, the semi-final, and the final of the 100 metres. In the final -he equalled the record of 10.3 sec. This will to win invariably brings the best out of Dillard in every race and he is likely to produce exceptional times in New Zealand. Often termed the “Vaulting Parson,” Richards won the Olympic title this year at the record height of 14ft 11 l-Bin, after a five-hour duel with his team-mate, D. Laz. With Laz Richards is the only other pole vaulter to clear 15ft besides the fabulous. C. Warm erdam, who propelled himself over this height 43 times and holds the world record at 15ft BJin.