Record Run May Be Necessary

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 6

Record Run May Be Necessary

The brilliant 20-year-old Olympic prospect, A. G. Pyne, may have to lower his provincial record of 4min 6.9 sec to win the mile title when the Canterbury athletics championships are continued at Rugby Park tomorrow.

Pyne came within a whisker of beating W. D. Baillie over two miles at Dunedin last week and has been running at the top of his form. But he will have considerable opposition. B. Smith was estimated to have run the equivalent of just under a 4min ssec mile at Dunedin, while the field will also include Westport’s G. Morris, a powerful finisher, who tied in the halfmile title with G. Hack. Record sprint times by D. W. Mackenzie have been a regular feature of recent weeks and his clash with A. Steel in the 100’ yards could result in another exciting record-breaking match. The giant shot putter, R. D. Tait, will attempt to beat h ! s own Canterbury record with the 161 b weight. One of the most intense struggles will be the women’s

high jump, in which three national representatives— Mrs V. I. Young, Mrs L. E. Wilson and Miss L. Curtis—will battle for the title. Mrs Young and Mrs Wilson share the Canterbury record at sft 6jin. although Mrs Wilson has cleared sft Bin. Troubled with injury earlier in the season, the world's second ranked women halfmiler, Miss M. A. M. Chamberlain, will be looking for a fast time to impress the national selectors. Last week she showed a good return to form with a brisk 56.55ec for 440yds. The senior men's petition which will send the time close to G. Hack’s record of 48.7 sec. The Canterbury marathon championship will also be decided tomorrow. This event will start and finish with circuits of the park, the remainder of the 26-mile 385yard race will be run on the road.