ATHLETICS ROUND-UP Mile In 3:56.6 Breaks World Indoor Record

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 8

ATHLETICS ROUND-UP Mile In 3:56.6 Breaks World Indoor Record

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, February 14. An American runner, T. O’Hara, of Chicago, bettered the world indoor record for the mile, with 3mm So.osec, at the New York Athletic Club’s games at Madison Square Garden, United Press International reported.

O'Hara passed the threequarters of a mile mark in 3min I.6sec, and then stormed over the final 440 yards in a stupendous 55sec. He erased the world mark of 3min 58.6 sec set at the same meeting last year by Jim Beatty, of Los Angeles. O’Hara then finished second. O’Hara established himself as one of America’s .brightest hopes for the Olympic Games at Tokyo and a distinct threat to .P. G. Snell, who holds the outdoor record at 3min 54.4 sec. In an earlier event, R. Hayes, of Florida, equalled the world indoor record for the 60 yards with 6sec. Davies Favoured Form and fitness favour J. L. Davies (Waikato) to win the mile event when he clashes with P. G. Snell and C. Weisiger (United States) in the Agfa athletics meeting at Auckland tomorrow. Snell’s defeat could be due to several reasons, but his fighting spirit is such that if he might be pushed to the tape ahead of his two great opponents. An attack of dysentery 10 days ago left him weakened and interrupted his training. On mile times this season Weisiger is the fastest of the three, with 3min 56.65ec. (P.A.) Invited To Sydney Track and field athletes to be chosen to represent New Zealand later in the year at the Tokyo Olympics may compete on the new allweather track at Marrabeen (Sydney) on their way to Japan. The track will be ready in August. The chairman of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Mr H. I. Austad) confirmed today that an inTennis Coach.—The Australian tennis professional, F. Sedgman, has signed a contract to coach the German Davis Cup team.—(P.A.) Water Polo.—Victoria beat New Zealand, 3-2, in' a water polo match in Melbourne on Thursday. For New Zealand, Anderson scored in the third quarter and Kocsis In the final quarter.—(P.A.)

vitation to compete in Syd-, ney had been received. "The invitation has been | discussed and left in abeyance,” he said, "but even if the N.Z.A.A.A. wanted their section of the team to stop over and compete in Sydney, the approval of the Olympic body would have to be obtained.” —(P.A.) Shatters Pole At practice last night the New Plymouth pole vaulter, K. Gibbons, had a big disappointment when the Ameri-can-made fibreglass pole which has carried him to five New Zealand records in the last 12 months, shattered. Gibbons was attempting a vault of 15ft 4in higher than his New Zealand resident record —when the pole disintegrated beneath him. He confessed today that he now feels he has not much ] chance of breaking the Newj Zealand record.