Olympic Medallist Magee Wins Marathon Title

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29763, 5 March 1962, Page 21

Olympic Medallist Magee Wins Marathon Title

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL Mar. 4. B. A. Magee (Auckland) the Olympic Games bronze medallist, ran brilliantly to win the gruelling New Zealand marathon championship in 2hr 34min 55.45ec at Invercargill on Saturday. J. Julian (Auckland) was second in 2hr 25min 27sec and M. Hellier (Auckland) third ia 2hr 31min llsec. W. Richards, of Canterbury, was fourth in 2hr 36m>in 27sec. The race was also a personal triumph for the coach of world record-holders, P. G. Snell and M. G. Halberg, for he had trained the first three men. Six Mins. Slower Magee’s time was six minutes outside his last year’s effort of 2hr 18min 54.25ec, which was then the fastest ever recorded at a championship meeting. The field of 26 —the largest to start in a New Zealand marathon—had warm and cloudy weather, with a fine misty rain falling from time to time, to start out on the flat four-lap course around the streets of South Invercargill. At five miles, W. Hobbs (Canterbury) led the first bunch, with A. Potts (Otago), Magee, R. Stevens (Canterbury), C. Reece (Canterbury), Julian, Hellier and I. Keats (Auckland) all within five seconds of the leader’s time of 28min 15sec Fifty yards back were Richards and J. Stuart (Canterbury). The pace gradually took its toll, and Julian, in 55min 35sec, led at 10 miles from

Magee, Potts, Hellier, Reece and Stevens. Hobbs had dropped back to seventh place. First Casualty Only four were left in the lead at the 15-<mile mark with Magee (Ihr 22min 26sec) ahead at Julian, Hellier and Potts, who was to be the first casualty when he developed stomach cramp after 16 miles and retired.

Magee and Julian gradually inched their way clear of Hellier, passing 20 miles in Ihr 51min, and in the final lap Magee shook off his team mate to enter the stadium well clear, completing half the 440 track before Julian appeared. He ran on strongly to. the finish. Other placing® were: R. Hamilton (Auckland 2:37:50, 5; R. J. Stevens (Canterbury) 2:38:36, 6; D, Puckett (West Coast, North Island) 2:39:13. 7; H. McKnight (Auckland) 2:41: 12, 8; G. T. Wilson (Canterbury) 2:42:55, 9; M. Copper (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay) 2:46:50, 10.