ATHLETICS Close Contest Expected In National Decathlon

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28233, 22 March 1957, Page 12

ATHLETICS Close Contest Expected In National Decathlon

Seven athletes will contest the New Zealand decathlon championships at Rugby Park today and tomorrow for the honour of a title which will distinguish the winner as the best all,-round athlete in the country. Although small, the entries are select and an extremely interesting competition is expected with last year’s winner R. Williams (Auckland), the brother of Yvette, and A. G. Lawless (Waikato) both figuring prominently. The other entrants are L. Amor (Otago), R. Williams (Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay), and three Canterbury runners—R. Ball, D. B. Masters, and A. Harbott.

Last year Williams '(Auckland) became the first New Zealander to break 6000 points, a feat that he achieved twice, and many critics considered him unfortunate not to be chosen for the Olympics, for his was then a best Em*pire performance. Two Australians subsequently beat his figures at the Olympics.

Lawless, formerly of Otago, had won the 10-event championship in the preceding lour years and he will be making every effort to regain the championship and record. Both Williams and Lawless have been national discus throwing champions and Lawless was also a 220 yards hurdle champion and was second this year. Judged on his performances at the national events at Napier, Lawless has improved in many events and he ran an amazing 48.2 sec in the final leg of the four by 440 yards relay. Although he had a rolling start for this the time was faster than D. Jowett recorded for the quartej-mile title and Lawless could have been a very serious challenger to Jowett had he reserved himself for the one race and contested the quar-ter-mile. Canterbury. Men None of the others were placed in last year’s event and for the three Canterbury men it will be their first national contest. Ball has twice won the Canterbury title, which he was unable to defend because he was in Auckland earlier this year, and Masters, a very promising junior, narrowly beat Harbott, who has been a consistent second at the provincial event.

Ball’s outstanding events .are the javelin and discuss but he can be expected to do well at the shot also and he has prospects of third place. Masters is an excellent long jumper and should do best in this event. The high jump should provide one of the most interesting sections of the competition for there is a very even spread of ability at this event, although Harbott who has cleared more than 6ft has the best performance.

The 100 metres, long jump, shot, high jump, and the 400 metres will be decided this afternoon starting at 3.30. The remaining events—the 110 metres hurdles, the discus, pole vault, javelin, and the 1500 metres—will be held in conjunction with the inter-club events tomorrow afternoon. An additional attraction on the

Saturday’s programme will be the appearance of Murray Halberg who will compete in Canterbury University College’s mile championship by invitation. Although there is no suggestion that Halberg will attempt a four-minute mile a good tipie can’still be expected for the Canterbury champion, J. K. Macdonald, is one of the University competitors and he recently broke Jim Daly’s four-year-old provincial record with 4min 13sec.

ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE

The concluding events of the St. Andrew’s College annual athletic sports were held yesterday on the college grounds in good weather but on a heavy track. J. G. Shaw, holder of the secondary schools’ high jump record, gave an outstanding performance in jumping sft lOin. One other record was broken, T. A. Hart jumping 16ft 6|in in the under 14 long jump. CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS Senior High Jump.—J G. Shaw 1, R. F. Murray 2, G. W. Boraman 3. Height, sft lOin (a record). Mile.—J A. Mills 1, W. E. L. Oakley 2, D. P. Baron 3. Time, smin 4.4 sec. Intermediate Mile.—P. G. Benseman 1, W. J. Thompson 2, R. M. Croft 3. Time, smin 18.4 sec. High Jump.—P. H. Wallis 1, T. A. Westwood 2. R. M. Mitchell 3. Height, 4ft Ilin. Shot Put.—N. W. Price 1, D. L. Townsend 2. M. N. Hildebrandt 3. Distance, 38ft lOJin. Junior Mile.—P. R. Ward 1. J. F. Logie 2, G. M. Walker 3. Time, smin 49sec. High Jump.—M. I. Baxter 1, M. L. Buckland 2, C. R. Halstead 3. Height, 4ft 6Jin. Under 14 Long Jump.—T. A. Hart 1, J. D. J. Johnston 2, B. A. Halliburton 3. Distance, 16ft 62in (a record). High Jump.—T. A. Hart 1, M. J. Saunders 2, P. E. Burrell 3. NON-CHAMPIONSHIP Senior

A Grade.—Mile: W. M. Kain 1, D. A. Jamieson 2, N. C. Morrison 3. Time. smin 26.65ec. Long jump: A. G. Watson 1, C. R. Bird 2, R. R. King 3. Distance, 14ft Sin. High jump: G. B. Todd 1, J. G. A. Lee 2, W. M. Kain 3. Height, 4ft 6in.

Intermediate A Grade.—Shot put: R. M. Croft and G. T. Kingston (equal) 1, W. S. Gartery 3. Distance, 35ft. High jump: B. K. Gollan 1, M. G. Johns 2, D. A. Young. 3. Height, 4ft 4Jin. Mile: D. R. Hegan 1, J. R. Trumper 2, W. T. Flewellyn 3. Time. smin 29.45ec. Long jump: S. T. Wyllie 1, R. M. Mitchell and G. J. Elder (equal) 2. . Distance. 15ft lin. B Grade.—Mile: P. D. Brown 1, D. G. Spence 2. G C. Barr 3. , Time. smin 47.45ec. \

A Grade.—Mile: J. J. Lochhead 1. W. R. Williamson 2. ,M. K. Roxburgh 3. Time, smin 49.85ec.. High jump: D. A. Syme 1, A. R. Turner and R. A. Hancock (equal) 2. Height, 4ft sJin.

A Grade.—Long jump: J. S. Ellis 1, A. J. Rumbold 2, C. W. Price and R. L. Milsom (equal) 3. Distance. 13ft 6in. High jump: J. S. Ellis 1, L. E. Smith 2. A. W. L. Mitchell 3. Height 3ft HJin. House Relay (16 x 110).—Rutherford 1, Thompson 2, Strowan 3. Time, 3min 22.25ec.