ATHLETICS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27366, 3 June 1954, Page 4

ATHLETICS

SUGGESTED VISIT BY OVERSEAS RUNNERS

BANNISTER AND LANDY MAY BE INVITED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 2. The famous mile runners R. Bannister and J. Landy and overseas athletes, wzio perform well in the forthcoming Empire Games in Vancouver, will be asked by tne New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to tour New Zealand after the games. This was decided by the association at its meeting last night after a letter had been received from the Hawke’s Bay Athletic Association requesting permission to invite Landy and Bannister. The association decided that the tour would be a national one with special consideration to be given to holding a meeting in Hawke’s Bay. If the Empire Games do not produce athletes of a standard suitable to the New Zealand association or if negotiations fall through, a member of the management committee, Mr G. S. Leeder, who is touring with the team, will be instructed to get in touch with Mr P. J. Ferris, secretary of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, with a view to obtaining American athletes for a tour of New Zealand. R. G. Ball’s national junior javelin record of 187 ft 3in was approved by the association. A letter was received from the British Amateur Athletic Board informing the association that P. Wells, formerly of Britain, was eligible to represent the Dominion at the Empire Games, but not at the Olympic GAmes.