ATHLETICS M. G. Halberg Wins Three-Mile Event

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29739, 5 February 1962, Page 10

ATHLETICS M. G. Halberg Wins Three-Mile Event

Although there was no record in the international three-mile race at the Agfa athletic meeting at Lancaster Park on Saturday it developed into an absorbing tactical duel between M. G. Halberg, the world record holder, and M. B. S. Tulloh, of Great Britain.

The race resolved itself virtually into a contest between these two. The seeking of a world record was probably a secondary consideration in the battle of wits which developed in the second stage of the race.

Now the veteran of many international meetings, Halberg proved too shrewd for Tulloh. The wily Halberg bluffed Tulloh into the lead with three laps to go. This gave Halberg the drop on his opponent in the final stages, precluding any possibility of a surprise break by Tulloh.

When Tulloh decided to make his break 350 yards from home it gave him but a momentary advantage and Halberg, driving himself to a punishing sprint, took the lead and raced for the tape. The crowd was on its feet as Halberg swung into the final straight. Try as he might Tulloh could not make an impression on the flying Halberg who increased his lead to win by about eight yards in 13min 30.8 sec. Tulloh recorded 13min 32sec and P. Sidon, of Otago was third, well back, in 14 min 4sec.

The two Otago runners, Siddon and A. Potts were the only runners who offered any serious opposition, but by half way they were virtually out of the reckoning. Pentathlon The withdrawal of E. Edstrom, of America, in the pentathlon because of a muscle injury robbed this event of much of its interest. Edstrom is one of America’s best decathlon athletes and is one of the few in the world who has compiled more than 8000 points in this gruelling event. The defection of M. J. Speden, of Canterbury, meant that the field was left to

three competitors only, E. Cunliffe (U.S.A.) R. G. Ball and R. Syme, both of Canterbury.

Cunliffe is better known as a middle distance runner of some merit and it was not surprising that he showed weaknesses in the throwing events and in the long jump Ball, one of New Zealand's best field men. excelled in the javelin, where he threw a distance of 213 ft. and the discus which he hurled 138 ft OJin.

Syme won the first event, the long jump, with a commendable 21ft 4in for 616 points, with Ball second with 20ft and 537 points and Cunliffe third with 17ft Ilin and 391 points. Ball then scored 849 points with his winning javelin throw, well ahead of Syme who recorded 430 points for his 146 ft 4in and Cunliffe who scored 311 points with a throw of 121 ft Ilin.

Cunliffe came to his own in the 200 metres and his time of 22.95ec was his best ever on a curved track This gave him 757 points, a more respectable total. Ball added a further 610 with 24sec and Syme scored 574 with his time of 24.35ec.

As expected Ball went ahead in the discus when he scored 684 points for a total of 2680. Cunliffe could only compile another 254 point? with a throw of 80ft and Syme 511 points with his 117 rt.

The last event, the 1500 metres was completely dominated by Cunliffe, as one might suppose, and he raced ? wa V„° win 3min 55.1 sec for 998 points and a grand total of 2721. Ball ran a comparatively slow smin 20sec but his score of 145 points was enough to give him a total of 2825 and victory. Syme added 351 points with his time of 4min 47.8 sec and this gave him third place with 2482 points.

OuUUndlnc Performances The international events were certainly the main highlights but there were several outstanding performances by local athletes.

Miss M. A. M. Chamberlain, of the Technical club, ran a particularly fine half mile in an attempt to beat the world record of 2min B.lsec held by Miss J. Jordon (Great Britain) Forced to lead from the start she was her own pace-maker and after a gallant effort she failed to set new figures by 2.ssec. This time was also •ssec outside her New Zealand record. While Miss Chamberlain missed on the half mile record she had the satisfaction of beating her own New Zeaand 800 metres time of 2min B.lsec by ,3sec. A race which merited as much applause was the junior mile event which G. Pyne, of Technical, won in 4min 13sec, only Isec outside the national record of I. McCausland and 3.2 sec faster than the Canterbury record of J. T. Power. Pyne was back in the field for the first lap with B. Milne, as usual, leading and P. J. Hewlett close behind. Pyne, not content with this, assumed the lead in the second lap and kept it. gradually building up a wide gap from Hewlett. Pyne ran the first half-mile in 2min ssec and the third lap in 3min 7.9 sec. He called on all his resources in the last lap in a magnificent solo effort which gave him a convincing win by 30 yards from Hewlett. Had Pyne been pushed there is little doubt he would have set a national record.

The Canterbury sprinter, L. Jones, who has dominated the quarter mile in his few appearances this season, produced a grand burst of speed in the 220 yards handicap and from scratch was third, only a yard behind the winner. M. Minards. Minards recorded 216 sec from seven yards and Jones recorded his best ever time of 21.7 sec. Results.— International Events

880 Yards.—P. G. Snell (N.Z.). 1:45.1, 1; J. Dupree (U.S.A.), 1.49.6, 2; J. Bork (U.S.A.), 1:53.5, 3.

Three Miles.—M. G. Halberg (N.Z.), 13:30.85ec, 1; M. B. S. Tulloh (G. 8. 13:32.0. 2; P. Sidon (Otago), 14:4.0. 3. Pentathlon

Long Jump.—R. Syme (C.). 21:4. 616 points: R. G. Ball (C.). 20:0. 537; E. Cunliffe (U.S.A.) 17:11, 391. Javeline,—Ball. 213:0. 849: Syme, 146:4. 430; Cunliffe. 121:11, 311

200 Metres.—Cunliffe. 22.9. 757; Ball. 24.0, 610: Syme. 24.3, 574 Discus.—Ball, 138.0 J, 684; Syme. 117:0, 511: Cunliffe, 80.0, 254.

1500 Metres.—Cunliffe 3:55.1, 998: Syme, 4:47.8, 351; Ball. 5:20.0, 145 Invitation Events

880 Yards. Women.—M. Chamberlain (T.), 2:08.6. 1; D Lagrosse (T). 2:23.6. 2; K Mackenzie (T.H.), 2:27.7. 3. Mile. Junior.—A G. Pvne (T). 4:13.0, 1; P. J. H. Hewlett (U). 4.23.1. 2; B. Cattermole (TH.). 4:26.2, 3

Pole Vault—M. D. Richards (Otago), 13:6, 1; C. Stricke (Canterbury), 12:115. 2: G. Townsend (Otago). 12:113, 3. Discus. Women.—V. I. Young (T.), 158:8. 1; L. Duncan (T.). 118:1}. 2; W. Thompson (Wai.), 116.91, 3.

_ Inter-Club Two Miles. Senior.—C. Saxon (T.) (lOsec), 9:56.6, 1: D. J Reece (T.) (42sec), 10.2.6. 2: A. W Richards (T.) (go). 10:3.6. 3. 100 Yards, Senior.—V. C. Stokes (H.S.) (9yds). 9.7. 1; G. J Lowery (T.) (6yds). 9.7. 2: D Minards (T.) (4yds), 9.9 3. 440 Yards. Junior.—B. Sheard (H.S.) (9yds>, 50.1. 1; S. A McLean (TH.) (25yds). 50.2. 2: R. L. Jones (TH.) (18yds). 50 2. 440 Yards, Senior.—V. C. Sykes (H.S.) (27yds>. 47.9, 2; B. C. Smith <T > (27yds). 481. 2: P. J. Cates (A.) (15yds), 48.4, 3. 220 Yards. Senior.—D. Minards (T.) (7vds), 21.6 1; P. Cates (A.) . 21.7, 2; L. A. Jones (T.). 21.7 3. 100 Yards. Junior —R. L. Jones (TH.) (syds). 10.2. 1; J. P. Geoghegan (U.) (scr.). 10.2. 2; M. R. Walls (T.H.) (2yds), 10.3. 3. 100 Yards. Women.—V. I. Young (T.) (7yds). 11.4. 1; L. H. Duncan (T.) (6yds). 11.4. 2; K. G. Sheehy (TH.) (6yds). 11.5, 3. HUSBANDS' AND WIVES' GUIDE. A frank and confidential booklet for married people only Sent in plain wrapper free Write today— GEORGE BETTLE, Chemist, 25 Victoria street.