SNELL AND HALBERG WIN AGAIN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 10

SNELL AND HALBERG WIN AGAIN

Differing Roles In Two Fine Races

(Special Corresponaent N.ZP.A.4

LOS ANGELES, June 9.

P. G. Snell and M. G. Halberg, in vastly contrasting roles, were accorded in turn standing ovations at the Compton relays meeting on Friday night.

Snell grimly led home the fastest over-all mile race in history and Halberg used great cunning to beat the Canadian prodigy, Bruce Kidd, in the 5000 metres.

The brutal pressure exerted against Snell, especially by Cary Weisiger late in the third lap, forced him to run 3min 55sec for victory.

This was only l-10sec slower than his Modesto triumph and the fourth fastest time in history.

Second came a rejuvenated J. Beatty in 3min 55.55ec, a personal improvement , of nearly a second. Third was D. Burleson in 3min 55.65ec, his fastest by two seconds. Then came J. Grelle, 3min 56.45ec, Weisiger 3min 57.1 sec, also personal records, and R. Seaman sixth in 3min 59sec.

They were better over-all performances than in H. Elliott’s remarkable record mile of 3min 54.55ec at Dublin in 1958 because then the second man was M. Lincoln in 3min 55.0 sec, and five men only were under four minutes. M. Groth, of Oregon, made the early pace, passing the first lap in 57.8 sec. When he gave way, Beatty, with Grelle outside him, took the field along at a more moderate but still brisk pace, while Snell stayed almost last, hugging the pole line. The two passed the halfmile in lmin 59sec and were still running steadily together at the head of the field. On the second corner of the third lap, Weisiger, who had kept close third, came wide around them and struck out into the straight, forcing a 550-yard chase on the field and on Snell, in particular. Snell, who had been lying fifth, sensed the move as it was happening and swung wide in the chase out of the corner, but the gap was five yards. Weisiger, who could tel] this from the shadows in front of him, swung hard into the last lap. Strain Tells Snell chased strongly, but not so desperately as to strain. He reduced the gap to three yards on the top corner and was in Weisiger’s lee down the back straight. Now the dash was taking toU not only on Weisiger. but also on Snell,

whose head was tossing wildly as he fought to overtake Weisiger while also looking desperately behind him for pursuers.

He got around Weisiger when 30 yards from the end of the bend. Then Beatty and Burleson came, accelerating after Snell. Snell had gained five yards and was unable to save three of them in the fierce finish.

Weisiger, who was the first man to challenge Snell from the 550 yards, had the time at the 1500 metres of 3min 39.35ec, which is a United States open record. In only another 120 yards, although he still recorded his fastest mile, he was buried in fifth place and a comparative obscurity.

Snell’s 500 metres time of 3min 39.45ec was his fastest by half a second. Alarm Clock

At last year’s Compton meeting, Halberg was beaten in the 5000 metres by Kidd. He gained only third in that race and received an alarm clock as a prize. “That alarm clock has woken me every morning for the last year,” said Halberg, “as a reminder.”

Consequently, his tactics against Kidd were even more elaborate than they were at the Empire Games. He settled in last during the first mile and allowed Kidd to lead. Then, in half a lap he moved easily up to second between Kidd and the Australian, P. Clohessy. In the straight he ran up alongside Kidd, peered in at him fixedly and then shrugged his right arm loosely at his side as if in imitation of Kidd’s flapping arm action. Again, in the next main straight, Halberg came up again Very soon Kidd began to reply with surges, sometimes three to a lap. Each time Halberg went instantly with him, anticipating each surge so well ” seemed he must have been looking down at Kidd’s legs. When the pace eased he himself would make a sudden surge almost past Kidd’s shoulder and then halt. He was running with great ease.

Coming out of the corner with 500 yards left, Kidd made his most violent spurt but Halberg was at once with him and then as soon as the surge was fading he passed

Kidd and tore down the straight. Kidd was leff high and dry but Clohessy magnificently overtook Halberg and opened up five yards down the back straight. Halberg was in full sprint but was unable to close the gap yet. He turned to make sure Kidd was not following before turning back to chase Clohessy. He waited until Clohessy weakened, caught him on the bend and outsprinted him in the short straight after a last lap of 57sec. Halberg recorded 13min 52sec and Clohessy. 13min 53.25ec. Kidd finished 60 yards back. Halberg ran a lap of honour and it was incredible that even after the great ovation accorded the mile heroes.- the crowd greeted Halberg’s win more vociferously, cheering and shouting him all the way around the track. Told afterwards that he had anticipated Kidd’s spurts remarkably, Halberg replied: “H wasn’t hard to anticipate when he moved but I couldn’t anticipate him when he slowed. I kept bumping into him.”