N.Z. RUNNER’S FUTURE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27339, 3 May 1954, Page 11

N.Z. RUNNER’S FUTURE

ATHLETICS

HALBERG LOOKS TO OLYMPIC GAMES ' Press Association—Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO, April 30. Murray Halberg, New Zealand champion miler and winner of the Benjamin Franklin Mile at Philadelphia last Saturday, said today he regarded his participation in the forthcoming Empire Games as just a break in his training for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. Halberg leaves tomorrow for New Zealand. His Franklin Mile victory against Mel Whitfield, Fred Wilt, and Horace Ashenfelter does not appear to have made him over-confident. 'T didn’t run against your miler Wes Santee,“ he said. The businesslike organisation of amateur athletics in the United States attracted Halberg’s attention. Noting the big number of professional coaciies as compared with the few in New’ Zealand, he said that professional coaching gave athletes many advantages. From now on all his training will be in preparation for the Olympic Games, he said. “AU I fcm going to do is. train and work. Competition would not benefit me. An athlete must Work and build himself up.- That is what I must do.” Halberg has no desire to become a professional coach, but would like to work as an amateur coach. He intends to make teaching in primary schools his career.

FAST MILE EXPECTED IN BRITAIN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 30. R. G. Bannister and C& J. Chataway are in the Amateur Athletic Association team to meet Oxford University at Oxford on This may Well mean that the first fast mile of the year will be recorded as it was in last year’s match. Then, when Chataway led Oxford, Bannister won in 4min 3.6 sec, the official British allcomers’ record. Most of the athletes who will be competing for places in the Empire Games and European championships are in the A.A.A. tetam. VILLA MARIA SPORTS Marienne Sullivan won the senior championship at the Villa Maria athletic sports held at the college on Friday. The intermediate champion'was Karan Smith, and the junior champion Ann Martin. Results : Senior Championship.—loo yards: Marienne Sullivan 1, Fay Delahunty 2, Margaret Brown 3.-50 yards: Marienne Sullivan 1, Elaine McKendry 2, Fay Delahunty 3. 120 yards: Marienne Sullivan 1, Fay Delahunty 2, Elaine McKendry 3. Intermediate Championship.—l2o yards: Karan Smith 1, Ann Foley 2, Mary Dimcan 3. 100 yards: Karan Smith 1, Ann Foley 2, Mary Duncan 3. 50 yards: Karan Smith 1, Mary Duncan 2, Ann Foley 3. Junior Championship.—7s yards: Ann Martin 1,- Margaret Whelan 2. Ann McKay x 3. 50 yards: Ann Martin 1, Margaret Whelan 2, Ann McKay 3. 100 yards: Ann Martin 1, Margaret Whelan 2, Mary O’Brien 3. Standards 111 and 1V.—50 yards: Sally Stopforth 1, Dawn Ellis 2, Maris McKay 3. 75 yards: Sally Stopforth 1, Dawn Ellis 2, Maris McKay 3. 100 yards: Dawn Ellis 1, Sally Stopforth 2, Roberta Mitchell 3.

House Relays.—Gold 1, Red 2, Green 3.