RECORD ATTEMPT BUNGLED

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 10

RECORD ATTEMPT BUNGLED

Sprinters Started From Wrong Mark

(N-Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 24 An attempt on the world 100-yards record by the Trinidad sprinter Mike Agostini at an athletic meeting at Moore Park cinders track became a farce. Officials started the race from the wrong mark and the runners covered 120 yards.

The error was made when officials changed the direction of the race to give Agostini the benefit of a slight wind. But they started the runners fr°m the 120 yards hurdles finishing line instead of the 100 yards finishing line. Agostini ran the 120 yards in 11.3 sec—one-ttenth of a second better than E. Macdonald Bailey’s best amateur time over the distance. There is no official record for 120 yards.

Experts said Agostini must have at least equalled the world record for the 100 yards mark. Agostini had the assistance of a following wind of 1.9 metres a second, which was under the permissible assistance of 2.2 metres a second.

Later in the programme. Agostini made another attempt on the record. On a badly cut up track and with a following wind of 5.5 metres a second' he ran the distance in 9.6 sec for the 100 yards.

Agostini said that his condition was not hard enough for him to produce two top efforts in one day. Agostini took the blunder in good part. He is to return to the United States next month but may stay on for the New South Wales championships in February if the Fresno State College, where he is a student, gives permission.