LINCOLN HAS EASY WIN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29071, 7 December 1959, Page 6

LINCOLN HAS EASY WIN

4min 12.3 sec For Mile

Merv. Lincoln, of Australia, gave spectators merely a taste of the ability that has enabled him to run the miie in under 4min when he competed in the mile at the interprovincial triangular athletic contest at Dunedin on Saturday evening. In running the distance in 4inin 12.3 sec, only o.3sec outside the Otago record held by Kerry Williams, Lincoln pleased the crowd with his beautifully smooth and apparently effortless style, and the crowd had begun to applaud him enthusiastically long before the finish as he raced around the last lap alone, having easily disposed of his opponents shortly after the bell. The rain-sodden track, badly cut up on the inside running after the afternoon events, did not appear to interfere with Lincoln's running, and he maintained perfect control of his stride throughout the race, but on such a track he probably enjoyed an advantage over the long-striding P. Sidon. (Otago) and D. Dixey (Canterbury). For a good part of the first two laps Lincoln was content to let the others make the pace, and although he sacrificed distance by running outside the bunch, he had the advantage of firmer going while being in a position to dictate the tactics if need be. Though Dixey has run faster times, the event must rank as his most determined effort in top-class competition, and he showed he is regaining something of the confidence he had as the country's top junior. Twice previously when the tactics have been a little boisterous. Dixey has left the track, but on this occasion, when there was some buffeting, he was more aggressive. After a slight lapse when he appeared to give up hope, Dixey rallied and finished determinedly. Dixey's time for third place was 4min 18.3 sec. Sidon ran well, after his 14min 20.2 sec three miles in the afternoon, to be timed at 4min 16.9 sec. Lincoln’s quarter-mile times to the nearest second, were: 61sec, 64sec. 66sec, 61sec.