JOHN LANDY MILE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29152, 12 March 1960, Page 7

JOHN LANDY MILE

Elliott Too 11l To Compete

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE, March 11.

The New Zealand runner, M. Halberg, is likely to run a fast time in the John Landy mile, the main event at the opening day of the Victoria v. New Zealand athletics match at Olympic Park Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

A team of 24 top-ranking New Zealand athletes has been- brought to Melbourne for the two-day meeting, which is being sponsored by the Victorian milk industry. The New Zealanders, like the Australians, have just completed their national championships. Performances at this meeting will have, a strong bearing on Olympic selection. The world mile record-holder, Herb Elliott, is ill in bed today and is almost certain not to start in the mile tomorrow. Elliott was expected to break four minutes tomorrow and his absence will take a lot of interest from the race.

Elliott contracted a cold in Perth last week-end and was below par when he won the 880 yards on Monday.

Tomorrow’s mile field will Include A. Thomas, who like Halberg broke the four-minute mile in finishing behind Elliott in his world record mile of 3min 54.55ec at the Santry Stadium, Dublin,

In August, 1958. The versatile D. Power (New South Wales), who has run only a fraction outside the four-minute mile, is also in the field.

Others in the race are Queensland’s A. Blue, W. Baillie (New D. Wilson (New South Wales), and J. Murray (Victoria). The race will start at 6.5 p.m. New Zealand time.