WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28129, 19 November 1956, Page 18

WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP

YOUNG AUSTRALIAN SURPRISES

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, November 18. Michele Mason. Australia’s 17-year-old high jumper, yesterday caused a sensation with a jump of sft Bin. It was the greatest jump ever made by an Australian women. The event developed into a thrilling contest between Mildred McDaniel (United States), Michele Mason, and Carol Bernoth (Australia). They were competing in an unofficial meeting at Royal Park in which Australian, American. Chilean, and South African representatives took part. Miss Mason’s jump was 2in higher than the Australian record, and l«in higher than the Olympic record. Women’s Discus.— Earlene Brown. 16A-stone American, beat the Australian women’s discus record by 15ft with a throw of 154 ft. The record cannot be recognised because it was not made at an official meeting. Outstanding Half-mile. — Tom Courtney, the United States 800 metres champion, ran a remarkable half-mile in Imin 50.8 sec on the muddy, windswept university track yesterday. He was unpaced. After watching him. Jim Bailey, the Australian 1500 metres runner, said: “He is the best middledistance runner in the world. You can write him down as the winner of the Olympic 800 metres gold medal.’’ Hockey Trial.— The Indian hockey team yesterday beat Australia by 6 goals to 1 in a trial game. The Indians led 2-1 at half-time, but proved much stronger in the second half. Olympic Pool Temperature.— The Russian Olympic swimmers consider the Games pool too cold, according to their coach, Vladimir Kitaev. Kitaev said that the temperature should be two or three degrees warmer, and that the present temperature of the water is affecting his team’s training. Mr W. Berge Phillips, secretary of the Australian Amateur Swimming Union, said that the pool’s temperature ranges from 72deg to 76deg, and that the Russians have made no official complaint.

Rain Spoils Training.— Heavy showers spoiled the plans of Olympic competitors and thousands of sightseers in Melbourne today. Training schedules were upset because of sodden tracks. The white lanes marked on the running track at the Cricket Ground were almost washed out by the rain. But all the preparations at the stadium are in an advanced stage, and officials said there would be no difficulty in getting everything ready before Thursday. £lOO a Seat “Too Cheap”.—A “scalper” is refusing offers of up to £lOO for tickets to the Games. The tickets are for a seat in the main stadium at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for every day of the Games. The face value of the tickets is £4O. “£lOO is not nearly enough—l can do much better.” the scalper told one reporter. "The seats are right on the finishing line.”