Times Bar To Entry In Big U.S. Events

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 14

Times Bar To Entry In Big U.S. Events

Gaining entry into the big athletic meetings in America had been a considerable problem, the New Zealand quarter-mile champion and Empire Games nominee, D. W. Mackenzie, said yesterday.

Mackenzie returned to Christchurch on Saturday after two months in America, mainly in California and Arizona where he twice recorded his best 220yds time of 21.5 sec. —two tenths of a second inside his Canterbury record. “The standard is so high particularly in the short track events, that it is very hard to get into the important meetings. Even boys at school are running good times," he said. Generally a time of at least 47sec flat was required before a quarter-miler was assured of entry and for 100 yards a best of at least 9.ssec was usually expected. “I wasn’t good enough to get into some of them,” he said. Last of Sight Mackenzie competed in two major meetings, the Mount San Antonio Relays on April 30 and the Fresno Relays on May 14. In the 440 yards at the Mount San Antonio his best time of

47,t00c ranked him bottom in e field of right. Heading the rankInga were such runners M O. Owens <4fi.2sec), D. Archibald (46.Mee) and R. Freeman (4fi.9soc>. , _ . . - However. Mackenzie finlehefi sixth in 4Ssec—bia beet while in America and satisfactory considering the strength of his of difficulty getting entries accepted. Mackensle had ample competition and was eatisded with the trip. There were all-comers meetings, he said, at which anyone could compete. This gave plenty of opportunity for ordinary athletee to compete against others nationally ranked. Starting today one aH-eomera meeting would be held every week day. Any athletes considering a trip to America should to slightly, later tn the season then he had to take full advantage of such meetings. In his first meeting after arriving in America, the Mount San Antonio all-comers meet. Mackensle wu second in the 100 yards in O.Ssec and third in the 220 yards in 22.25ec. On April 23 he took second place in both the 100 and 220 yards in the Longbeach Dual and on May 21 was second in the Los Angeles State Dual 440 yards. Wen Two In his first Longbeach allcomen' meeting on May 21. he won both the 440 and 220 yards In 48.5 sec and 22.25ec. res pec-

lively, and enjoyed two more wine in the sama events at the aecond Longbeach ail-comers meeting. when ho recorded 4t 4aec and tl.fiaee. At the third Longbeach allcomers' mealing he was first ZSrt in the 229 yards in 216.ec and second In the quarter-mile <n >Ue last competition In Ame rice, on June 9, was a special trial held at the University of California. Los Angeles with a fellow New Zealander, R. Johnson. and an Indian sprinter. R Ford. Mackensle won the 1M yards in 9.7 sec, hla boat in America. with Johnson, showing great basic apeed (or a 440 yards hurdler to finish second in g.esec. Mackensle’a 226 yards time was 21.3eec. Commenting on the Empire Games selection, bo said: "I was surprised to see that the athletic nomination, were cut by so many, but since they were I was not surprised that I was cut. There were a number who missed out whom I feel should have been Included." He said he wu now quite re signed to staring at home and that he would not make any laat-minute attempts for fast times In New Zealand. It was too cold “If I could not do it last week I do not see why I should bo able to do It now. ' he said. Mackensle said be would de finitely compete again next season and would very much like to repeat bis 9.leec IM yards which wu disallowed as a national record because of a wind gauge technicality. He In tended to do winter training of up to 30 mtlea a week on the road.