Davies’s Longest ‘Kick’ In 5000 m.

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30973, 1 February 1966, Page 18

Davies’s Longest ‘Kick’ In 5000 m.

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND.

Persistent rain and a slippery, muddy track meant painfully slow times at the Rothmans athletic meeting last night at Western Springs Stadium, Auckland.

J. L. Davies had a fine tactical win in the 5000 metres. He started his finishing sprint from 500 yards, his longest "kick” ever.

The winning time was 14 min 35.25ec, well outside M. G. Halberg’s New Zealand record of 13min 38.4 sec.

The Russian V. Kudinsky was second in 14min 40sec with W. D. Baillie third in 14min 42sec.

Davies, who had trouble with his glasses and the rain during the race, said after that he would definitely try to concentrate on the three miles for the Empire Games in August Miss Brenda Matthews, the 16-year-old Lynndale runner, was beaten in the 80 metres hurdles and the 100 yards.

In the hurdles she and Miss Irena Press, the world record holder, ran stride for stride to the tape with the Russian swallow-diving to win by inches in ll.lsec.

Miss Mathews’s time was 11.2 sec and the third place getter, Mrs Avis Mclntosh, clocked 11.5 sec.

Miss Press got a straight start in the 100 yards and her early gap of two feet on the Auckland girl was never closed. The winner’s time was 10.9 sec with Miss Matthews on 11.2 sec and Miss Margaret Snow, on ll.fisec in third place.

The mile was won by I. Studd in 4min 14.9 sec with N. K. McDell second, two yards behind, and L Babe another two yards back third. The six miles was won by B. J. Everitt (Wellington) in the excellent time, for the conditions, of 30min 9.6 sec. After running with J. L. Julian and M. R. Ryan until one and a half miles to go Everitt, made a stunning break which had opened to 150 yards at the finish. Julian was second and Ryan third.

The Russian, L. Ivanov, pulled out with 15 laps to go.