AUSTRALIA BEATS NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 12

AUSTRALIA BEATS NEW ZEALAND

A TH LET ICS

Inter-Dominion Championship

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE. June 3. The Australian Universities yesterday defeated a New Zealand University team in the third inter-Dominion athletic championship since the war. The points score was:— Men. —Australia 27, New Zealand 18. Women.—Australia 13, New Zealand 8. The test was held at Olympic Park. Although the weather was fine, conditions were not good because of heavy rain during the week. The only record of the day was put up by Australia’s Olympic hope. Wendv Hayes, of Melbourne. Her time of B.6sec in the women’s 75 yards equalled the Victorian residential record. The highlight of the day was the appearance of the South African University student, D. Burger, who competed by special invitation in the 120 yards hurdles event and the pole vault. He won both easily, just failing to establish an Australian record in the pole vault when he hit the bar at 13ft 7in. Among good efforts by the New Zealanders was that of M. Jeffries in the high jump. His 6ft 4in was considered good under the conditions Results:— Men Mile.—V. J. Plummer (A.j 1, J. Howes (A.) 2. Time. 4min 9.2 sec. Hammer Throw.—A. Clarke (N.Z.) 1, M. Croatto (A.) 2, W. O’Connor (A.) 3. 150 ft 3in. Discus Throw.—R. Ball (N.Z.) 1. 137 ft Jin. Three Miles.—W. Travers (N.Z.) 1, J. K. Pierce (A.) 2. E. W. Pierce (A.) 3 Time, 14min 28.6 sec. 880 Yards.—D. Smith (N.Z.) 1, D. Henderson (A.) 2. A. C. Blue (A.) 3. Time, Im in 55.1 sec. 440 Yards.—J. F. Clarke (A.) 1. D. Smith (N.Z.) 2. T. Rothwell (Aust.) 3. Time, 50.6 sec. 120 Yards Hurdles.—D Burger (South Africa) 1, J. R. Joyce (A.) 2. P. Hall (A.) 3. J. Hawkes (N.Z.) 4. Time, 14.6 sec. 440 Yards Hurdles.—J. Parker (A.) 1, J. Balderstone (A.) 2. J. Hawkes (N.Z.) 3. Time. 54.1 sec. High Jump.—M. Jeffries (N-.Z.) 1. J. Vernon (A.) 2. Height, 6ft 4in. Pole Vault.—D Burger (South Africa) 1. A. Brooks (N.Z.) 2. B. Shannon (A.) 3 Height, 13ft. 100 Yards—B. Randall (A.) 1. B. Barnett (A.) 2. R. Irwin (N.Z.) 3. Javelin Throw.—P. Lean (A.) 1. R. Ball (N.Z.) 2. L Donaldson (A.) 3. Distance. 182 ft. lOJin. 220 Yards.—B Randall (A.) 1, B. Barnett (A.) 2, R. Irwin (N.Z.) 3. Time. 22.65ec. Shot Put.—R. Ball (N.Z.) 1. K. Mottram (A.) 2, J. Sennitt (A.) 3. Distance. 43ft 4 x 440 Yards Relay.—Australia 1. New Zealand 2. Time. 3min 24.75ec. Women 75 Yards.—W Hayes (A.) 1, C. Moran (N.Z.) 2, D. May (N.Z.) 3. Time, B.6sec. 100 Yards.—W. Hayes (A.) 1, C. Moran (N.Z.) 2. C Dowe (A.) 3. Time, 11.2 sec. 80 Metres Hurdles.—J. Parsons (A.) 1. B. Mcßeavie (A.) 2. J. Johnson (N.Z.) 3. Time. 12sec. Discus.—J. Johnson (N.Z.) 1. A. Morris (A.) 2, G. Galvin (A.) 3. Distance, 10211 6£m. High Jump.—M. Mellsop (N.Z.) 1, E Evening (A.) 2, A. Morris (A.) 3. Height, 4ft 9in. 4 x 110 Yards Relay.—Australia 1, New Zealand 2. Time, 52.1 sec.

AMERICAN BREAKS 4-MIN MILE

Ron Delany’s Time Of 3min 59sec (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, June 2. A 20-year-old student, of Villanova University, Ron Delany, became the first American to break the fourminute mile barrier when he recorded the time of 3min 59sec in a brilliant finishing duel with G. Nielsen, whose time was 3min 59.1 sec. It was a thrilling race and had the crowd of 70,000 people roaring with excitement as Delany caught Nielsen in the final straight and held the Dane off the last 50 yards. Fred Dwyer of New York was third in 4min o.Bsec and Bobby Seaman. University of California, was fourth in 4min I.4sec. Delany and Nielsen became the seventh and eighth men to break the four minute barrier.

It has now been surpassed 14 times. The world record is 3min 58sec, set by Australia’s John Landy, in Finland in 1954.

It was a triumph for the twenty-year-old Delany, who is a student at Villanova University. Nielsen, who is the co-holder of the world 1500 metres record of 3min 40.8 sec, was having his first race since he ran in South Africa in February. Lowell Zeller of the United Slates Army took the lead at the start, closely followed by Nielsen, Delany and Seaman. After a lap and a half. Nielsen took the lead from Zeller with Seaman right behind him Zeller was third and Delany fourth as they covered the half-mile in 2min I.6sec, which seemed too slow for anyone to breajc four minutes. Had it not been for Schweikart of Los Angeles, who went to the front as the field started the third lap Delany and Nielsen might not have been given the incentive for their fast finish. Tom Courtney of the United States Army beat Roger Moens of Belgium in the half mile race. Both men finished in Imin 49sec, but it appeared that Courney won by three yeards Ira Murchison. United States Army, equalled the world record of 10.2 sec for the 100 metres.