Record-holders Keen To Compete In N.Z.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31145, 23 August 1966, Page 19

Record-holders Keen To Compete In N.Z.

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. K. Keino, of Kenya, and a host of world record-holding United States athletes are keen to tour New Zealand this season.

D. S. Norris, the New Zealand long juniper at the Commonwealth games who had been appointed by the Auckland Athletic Centre to sound out athletes for a tour of the country, said that New Zealand was very popular with United States athletes. "Evidently when the American half-miler, T. Farrell, returned to the United States after his tour here a few years ago he made out a really good report on New Zealand,” he said. J. Ryun, the world mile record-holder, who the athletic centre especially asked for, would only be available for a week or two in January during the new year break at Kansas University, said Norris. However, R. Boston, the world long jump champion, had approached Norris and said: “If New Zealand just named the dates I would be there.” The world’s two top decathlon exponents, R. Hodge and W. Toomey, had also been “dead keen” to come to New

Zealand but like Ryun, thej had university commitment; and could only come in the last ■ week of December anc the first week of January. The world reeord-holder it the 200 metres and 220 yards T. Smith, was also eager for ; New Zealand trip but could

■y only fit one in at the same ts time as Toomey and Hodge. le Keino, the Commonwealth d mile and three miles champion, would like to return to n New Zealand and indicated to s, Norris that he would seria ously consider an official ind vitation.