SUPERB RUNS TAKE MILE AND 440YDS. TITLES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23177, 13 February 1950, Page 4

SUPERB RUNS TAKE MILE AND 440YDS. TITLES

(P.A.)

AUCKLAND. Feb. 13.

Although drizzling rain fell during the running of the mile at the Empire Games on Saturday it was obvious that fast time would be registered. The runners set a fast pace from the start and the lead changed quickly as Hutchins, Marshall, Eyre and Parnell, showed the way in turn.

Parnell was a couple of yards clear of Evre at the end of the first lap, but a spurt by Marshall, White, Hutchins or Sinclair would have taken it away from him. The pace was still on along the back stretch, where Eyre tried to break up the field and was at least six yards in front of Parnell, who had a couple of yards on Marshall and Sinclair together. At the half-mile Sinclair moved up to second placing, reducing Eyre’s lead to three yards and on his heels was Marshall. closelv followed by Parnell. It was obvious in the third lap that all were summoning up stamina for the final round and at the same time keeping a wary eye on any competitor who might get an unbridgable break on the field. There were six runners with chances of victory when the bell rang.

Electrifying Burst

Eyre was the first to clap on the pace with Marshall chasing and Parnell also making a bid. Sinclair dashed after them but after a short burst of speed fell back again. It was now between the first threeEyre made his final spurt 250 yards from home. It was a superb effort which he maintained amidst the roar of the crowd. Marshall followed him. but on the bend Parnell made an electrifying burst.

He was past Marshall and then wen* on to challenge Eyre. The Englishman was all out. but Parnell finished life a furlong runner and passed the post with five yards to spare. Marshall faltered over the last 50 yards and was 10 yards further baar. Another 10 yards away was Marks (Australia) who had put in a late bid and finished just ahead of White (England!. Sinclair, who did not put in his usual finishing burst, was sixth The six did 4min. 20sec. or better and the announcement of a new Empire Games record was the climax of the sustained roar of the crowd. Carr-Lewis Struggle The 440yds. contest resolved itself into a struggle between Carr and Lewis Going round the back Carr seemed to have a convincing lead from Lewis and Batten. All were running stylishly. As they rounded the bend these three were all out. desoite the cracking pace over the first 220vds. Batten was the first to wilt and Lewis was actually first into the straight two yards ahead of Carr. The Australian’s final dash to the tape was a superb example of sustained sprinting in which he never lost form. He passed Lewis and won by a yard with Batten six yards further back third. Batten came again over the last 30 vards. but could make no impression on the leaders.

There was a big ovation from Carr when it was announced that he had equalled the Empire Games record. Pugh (England) was fourth with Sutherland (New Zealand) and Price (Australia) tailed off. Kelays To Australians

Australia’s sprint supremacy was maintained in both the men s and women’s 440 yards relays. The Australian team won the men’s event from England and New Zealand in 42.2.

Then the women’s team, which included the two brilliant sprinters. Miss Marjorie Jackson and Miss Shirley Strickland, went one better by winning their event in the record-breaking time of 47.95ec. The previous Empire Games record was 49.1. established by the Australian team in Sydney in 1938. The women’s 660 yards relay also went to the Australians who headed New Zealand and England to the tape in Imin. 13.4 sec.—another Empire Games record.

The New Zealanders had every chance until a faulty baton change disqualified them. They finished in second place, but because their baton had been dropped to the ground and recovered England was awarded second place and Canada came up to third. The Australian team’s time was a second inside the previous record. The last of the relays, the men’s one mile was another victory for Australia with England in second place and New Zealand third.

Canada’s second title of the afternoon was won by Lee Roninen, with a javelin throw of 187 ft. 4£in. Luke Tunabuna, the sturdy little Fijian, added lustre to the first Fijian international team’s reputation by filling second place, less than 4ft. behind the winning throw.

New Zealand’s representatives Clegg and Stan Lay, finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Roninen’s winning throw was well inside the record of 207 ft. lAin. set by Lay at the Games of 1930.

Protracted Contest

The last event of the day to finish was the pole vault championship, wmch took more than three and a half hours to complete. Though it was after 7 p.m. when the two finalists each made an attempt to break the Empire Games record there were still some hundreds of rain-soaked spectators seated about the ground watching them. The record was not broken but enthusiasts who stayed to the end of the event at least had the satisfaction of seeing both T. D. Anderson (England) and S. Egerton (Canada) clear 13ft. and Jin.

Anderson took first place on the count back and after a further count back between P. Denton (Australia) and W. Heron (New Zealand) for the third placing the decision went to Denton. Both he and Heron had cleared 12ft. 9in.

The hammer-throw event, which was interrupted by heavy rain earlier in the afternoon, was a popular victory -or Duncan Clark, the sturdy captain of tne Scottish team. Duncan’s winning throw was 163 ft. IO.Un.— yet another Empire Games record. The Australians, K. Pardon and 11. Barkct, finished in second and third places with throws wel. short of Duncan's record-breaker, The best throw of the Now Zealand team captain, J. G. Leckics, was 136 ft. 6in.