Games Gold Medallist Behind In Decathlon

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 15

Games Gold Medallist Behind In Decathlon

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

The Aucklander, D. S. Norris, was leading the Commonwealth Games champion, R. A. Williams, after the first five events of the New Zealand decathlon championship at Mount Smart Stadium yesterday.

Norris had scored 3433 points at the end of the first half of the decathlon, which is being held in conjunction with the junior track and field and the women’s pentathlon championships. A gusty wind and light rain hampered most events, and Williams seemed depressed by the conditions. Norris went into the lead in the first event of the decathlon, the 100 metres, went further ahead in the long jump with an excellent effort of 24ft 7Jin, and although Williams scored in the shot and high jump, Norris had the last say in the 400 metres. He battled up the straight to dock 51.1 sec. Best Events To Come Williams has the pole vault and the discus events to come, in which he will undoubtedly pick up points, but probably not enough to match his effort of the Auckland championships, where he pulled up

with a superb performance on the second day to score more than 7000 points. R. Pownall, a likely placegetter, had to withdraw after the long jump when he gasned his knee on the concrete border. Progress points in the decathlon are: Norris, 3433; Williams, 3361; P. Lothian (A), 3121; M. Walker (HBPB), 2944; K. Lory (Wai). 2592; D. Rae (W), 2582; R. Taylor (A), 2509. Canterbury Dominant Canterbury athletes dominated the first day of the women’s pentathlon, having four of the first five placings after three events.

Progress points are: B. Poulsen (C), 2403; S. Flynn (C), 2383: L. Sinclair (C), 2336; J. Wilkins (A), 2319; L. Johns (C), 2216; R. Old (WCNI), 2196; D. Cosgrave (A), 2145. Miss Poulsen and Miss Flynn won their heats of the 80 metres hurdles, in 12.3 sec and 13.6 sec, respectively. Miss Flynn took the shot put with 44ft from Miss Poulsen. 40ft 9in, and Miss Johns won the high jump at sft lin, with Miss Flynn 4ft Bin and Miss Poulsen 4ft sJin . Miss Sinclair did 13-osec in the 80 metre hurdles, 40ft 7jin in the shot put and 4ft 6iin in the high jump. 177 ft lOln In Discus

In the junior championships, J. Antunovich took advantage of the wind in the discus to achieve a winning throw of 177 ft lOin. But Antunovich was possibly the only winner who found the wind a help. G. Summerville (Auckland), running the 3000 metres steeplechase from the

front, had an admirable time of 9min 31.8 sec. In the last two laps of the race, it seemed the slight Wellingtonian, M. Waters, might beat the powerful Papakurg boy, but after losing ground at the water jump, Summerville thundered over the last hurdle and up the straight to go through the tape well clear. Results of finals in the junior titles were: Triple Jump.—C. Blrkinshaw (H.8.P.8.). 47:0*. 1; K. Todd (S.), 48:2, 3; D. Blythe (Wai.), 45:8|, 3. Discus.—J. Antunovich (A.), 177:18, 1; P. Schmidt (Wai.), 153:7, 1; M. Welsh (Wai.). 151:4,

3. 4 x 100 Yards Relay.—Auckland, 43.4, 1: Canterbury, 44:0, 2; Waikato, 44.2, 3.