N.Z. RUNNERS FAVOURED

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29989, 26 November 1962, Page 9

N.Z. RUNNERS FAVOURED

3 Miles, 880 Yards Today “The Press" Special Service PERTH, November 25. With M. G. Halberg and P. G. Snell competing in the finals of the three miles and half-mile respectively on Monday, New Zealand’s record of a gold medal a day should be continued. Halberg is a favourite for the three miles, even against such formidable opponents as the Englishman, M. B. S. Tultoh and B. Kidd, the Canadian who scored such a decisive victory in the six miles on Saturday. Little has been heard of Halberg in the last few days, but his team-mates say he is at a physical peak and nothing but an accident will prevent the New Zealander from winning a gold medal. Snell, by his effortless wins in the heat and semifinal of the half-mile, has clearly shown his fitness, which until a week or so ago was suspect. His time of Imin 50.7 sec in his heat was produced without any strain and there is no doubt that he could have run seconds faster with a little more stimulus. Jamaica’s G. Kerr will be Snell's most dangerous opponent in the half-mile and much will depend on the tactics used in the first quarter. Kerr cannot afford to have the first lap at too fast a pace because he lacks Snell's stamina so it is likely that he will try to make the first lap a moderate one. But Snell will probably not be troubled by these tactics. He has such great reserves of stamina that he can adapt himself to any race condition.