Australian Champions.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22572, 27 February 1948, Page 8

Australian Champions.

The unlucky runner at the Australian championships held at .Melbourne appears to have been the young New South Wales sprinter. M. Curotta. who tripped and fell when leading 10 yards from the tape in the 440yds., won by John Bartram (Victoria), with Herb McKenley (Jamaica) second. Newspaper writers agree that Curotta was tiring over the last bit, but his fall was the result of a trip and collapse The track was even and Curotta apparently did not lift his right toe quite high enough. It is not surprising to learn that the New South Wales crack was tiring, for at the end of the first 220 lie was six yards in front and had clocked 21.6scc. No runner on earth could maintain that speed. Curotta was dejected because of his defeat which has not eliminated him as a probable for the Olympic Games. His 48sec. in the New South Wales trial is still the best 44fi yards run in Australia this season. John Treloar’s 20.9 for the 220 yards was n phenomenal eflort. and after the race the referee ruled that Treloar' was not assisted by wind in his record-breaking final. Great as this run was, it is said that Treloar wcnl faster in the medley relay, and unolTieiallv limed for his section he recorded 20.2scc. “There is no saying what Treloar will do." said McKenley after the 100 had been run. “lie might even do 9.4 on the cinders.”