Snell third in world Superstars contest
NZPA staff correspondent Washington The New Zealand sports great, Peter Snell, said yesterday he would not be home next year to defend the New Zealand “Superstars” title he won in January. “The New Zealand winner will be an automatic qualifier tor the world Superstars competition.” Snell said, “and if I stay away another Neu Zealander will be certain of a berth.” Snell said he thought he could qualify through American trials and competitions. The former miler won a qualifying round for the I'nited States Superstars late last year, finished fourth in the American finals and has just been placed third in the world championship in Georgia.
These three competitions, plus his victory in the New Zealand contest, have earned him more that $40,000 “enough to pay for the past couple of years of university here and post graduate work after I grauuate in June.” Snell won the tennis, rowing and cycling in Georgia to be placed third behind an American, Bob Seagren, and a Swede, Kjeil Isaksson, both former champion pole vaulters. Seagren was a clear winner but Snell was only a couple of points behind the Swede. Snell said his win in the one-mile cycle race was particularly gratifying because a near spill in the same event at the American final cost him victory in the American Superstars.
“I took off after miles and broke away to win by the length of the straight,” Snell said. But a miscalculation by officials on the number of laps allowed Isaksson to finish second in the race and clinched second place over all.
“We did one extra lap than we should have,” Snell said. “If the race had been called at the right time Isaksson would not have ridden a place and he would have finished behind me over all.”
The 15 competitors competed in seven sports. Snell lost in the swimming, the 100 metres dash, gymnastics and soccer penalty kicks.
A former Welsh sciumhalf, Gareth Eduards, was one of the non-Americans in the field but did not distinguish himself.
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Press, 24 March 1977, Page 32
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344Snell third in world Superstars contest Press, 24 March 1977, Page 32
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