Halberg Plans Fewer Races

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 9

Halberg Plans Fewer Races

“The Press" Special Service

NEW YORK, June 12.

Apart from a possible trip to Oregon for a proposed 4 x one mile relay race in three weeks, M. G. Halberg may not compete again in international athletic competition. But he intends never to say that he has retired.

“There will never be any big announcement,” said Halberg during his recent Californian tour.

“People will just say after a couple of years, *Oh, I haven’t noticed Halberg in any big races for a while.’ Frequently during the recent tour Halberg was asked which titles, if any, he was going to contest at the Tokyo Olympic Games next year. His stock reply was: ‘‘That’s a long way ahead yet. First ot all you have to be good enough to be selected for your country.” No Temptation It is true, howover. that the Olympics and possibly another gold medal are not tempting Halberg greatly at present. “When I get home,” said Halberg, “my one aim is to spend six months getting my house and property into shape. Then I’ll probably start running again. I’ll always run for my health’s sake anyway. “It’s possible that I could get interested in running at Tokyo. Certainly the training is no longer a physical hardship. The incentive and the time is all I need.” Halberg admitted that his incentive fell away greatly after the European tour in 1961, on which he gained or shared in three world records He trained hard for the Perth Empire Games, he said, but not since. Remarkable Record Assuming that Halberg does not compete in any further major events he will leave behind him the following remarkable record: . He has never been beaten in a two-mile race. His defeats in distances of more than a mile can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Although now a specialist three-miler he still retains the fastest time by a New Zealander for 1500 metres. 3min 38 Bsec, which is half a second faster than P. G. Snell's best.