RECORD SIX MILE RUN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26713, 6 March 1948, Page 8

RECORD SIX MILE RUN

W. H. Nelson Breaks Olympic Standard TRACK AND FIELD TITLES The feature of the opening day of the New Zealand Track and Field Championships at Carisbrook yesterday was a magnificent effort by W. H. Nelson, Otago’s brilliant distance runner, who won the Six Miles Championship in the New Zealand record time of 29min 57 2-ssec. This also bettered the Olympic qualifying time of 30 min, set by the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, by 2 3-ssec. In spite of the fact that rain fell just before the commencement of the meeting, the track was much faster than might have been expected, and with an absence of wind, the conditions left little to be desired when Nelson accomplished his outstanding run. There was a heavy downpour soon afterwards, however, and this slowed the track up considerably and had its effect upon competitors in the field events, more particularly the pole vault and the broad jump.

Nelson did not defend his title in the One Mile., preferring to start in the Six Miles, in which much interest was aroused by his meeting with the New Zealand cross-country champion, W. J. Wells, of the West Coast (North Island). Wells was listed as the holder of the record with a performance of: 30min 45 4-ssec, but Nelson has figures of 30min 32sec still awaiting recognition. The Otago champion cleared out from the field after the first halfmile had been covered, and apart from some assistance in the matter of pace when he was about to lap A. R. Geddes (Oago), the former Empire Games representative, and then N. Taylor (Wellington), Nelson made his own running for most of the way. With half the distance covered he led by 150 yards from Wells, and striding out he increased this to 200 yards during the next mile. Over the last mile Nelson increased the pace and unwound a devastating sprint from the furlong mark to win by 300 yards from Wells, who finished undistressed another 220 yards ahead of Taylor. Nelson’s sectional times were:—One mile, 4min 47_sec; two miles, 9min 50sec; three miles, 14min 52sec; four miles, 19min 59sec; five miles 25min 6sec; six miles, 29min 57 2-ssec. Thrilling Finish The track was much heavier when the mile was run, and it was an excellent performance on the part of the New Zealand University 880 Yards and One Mile, champion, J. D. Sinclair, wearing Otago’s colours, to win in a thrilling finish from M. Marshall, the Waikato champion, the time being 4min 23 2-ssec. This was the best performance of Sinclair’s career, and was a fraction of a second faster than the time he returned when he defeated Marshall in the Auckland championship a few weeks ago. Sinclair displayed perfect judgment, and went into the lead just before entering the last lap. Marshall chal-

at present held by Auckland, were:— Otago 26J, West Coast (North Island) 9, Auckland 8, Canterbury SJ, Waikato 3, Wellington 2. The attendance yesterday was about 1500. The Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, will be present at the championships this afternoon, when the grand parade of athletes will be held, and A. L. Fagg, captain of the Otago team, will take the Olympic oath. Abbreviations used are:—A., Auckland: North Island; H.8.—P.8. Hawke’s BayWo., Waikato: W.C., N. 1.. West Coast, Poverty Bay; W., Wellington; C., Canterbury; 0., Otago. Results:—

TRACK EVENTS 100 YARDS. World's record: 9 2-ssec. New Zealand record: 9 3-ssec, J. F. Treloar (N.S.W.), 1947. Best New Zealander’s performance: 9 4-ssec, J. H. Hempton (H. 8.), 1892, M. Leadbetter (C.), 192/, A. J. Elliot (A.) 1932 and 1933, W. J. Fitzsimmons (H.8.-P.8.), 1937, and R. Agate (A.), 1946. Title holder: D. R. Batten (C.), 10sec.—First heat: A. R. P. Eustace (A.) 1. S. R. Dawson (O.) 2, P. Henderson (W.C., N. 1.) 3; time, lOsec. Second heat: D. R. Batten (C.) 1, R. Sherborne (W.) 2, C. Parker (Wo.) 3; time, 10 2-ssec. 220 YARDS. World’s record, 20 3-10 sec. New Zealand records—straight track, 21 1- G. S. Simpson (U.S.A.), 1931; curved track, 21 2-ssec, J. F. Treloar (N.S.W.), 1947. Best New Zealander s performances—straight track, 21 2-ssec, A. J. Elliot (A.). 1932; curved track, 21 3-ssec, W. S. Bainbridge (A.), 1935. Title holder: R. Agate (A.). 22sec.-First heat: C Parker (Wo.) 1. D. R. Batten (C.) 2. A C Hill (A.) 3; time, 22 3-ssec. Second heat: J. G. C. Myles (A.)’ 1. S. Boyes (Wo.) 2, P. Henderson (W.C.. N. 1.) 3. time. 22 3-ssec. • , • 440 YARDS. World’s record: 46 2-ssec. New Zealand record and best New Zealander’s performance: 47 4-ssec, D M. Harris (A.), 1945 and 1947. Title holder; D. M. Harris (W.C., N. 1.), 47 4-ssec. First heat: J. C. Grierson (A.) 1, J. L. Pring (A.) 2, J. E. Millar (C.) 3: time. 49 l-ssec. Second heat: H. Rainey (W.) 1, D. Otway (A.) 2, T. B. Richardson (O.) 3; time, 51sec. , ONE MILE. World’s record, toln 1 2- New Zealand record and best New Zealander’s performance, 4mffi.l3 3- R. A. Rose (W.). 1926. Title holder. W. H. Nelson (O.), 4min 20 4-ssec.—J- D. Sinclair (O.) 1, M. Marshall (Wo.) 2, N. Bates (W.C., N. 1.) 3 Time, 4min 23 2-ssec. Won by a yard, 10 yards between second an siX hi MILES. World’s record : 28mta 38 4-ssec. New Zealand record and be |,t New Zealander’s performance. 30min 45 4- W. J. Wells (W.C., NX), 1947 ia faster’performance by W. not yet been officially credited), championship not held previousiy—W. H. > Nelson (O.) 1, W. J. Wells (W.C., N. 1.) 2, N. Taylor (W.) 3. Time, 29min 57 2-ssec—-a New Zealand record. Won by 300 yards, 25 2°20 y YARDS HURDLES. 'World’s record: 22Jsec. New Zealand records and best New Zealanders’ performances: freight tracks, 24 3-ssec, P. T. Bowie (A.). IOT7, curved track, 24 3-ssec, A. R. Eustace (A.), 1947. Title holder: A. R. P-Eustace-(A ), 24’ 3-ssec.— First heat: J. M. Holland (A.) 1. J. S. Williams (C.) 2, A. C. Hill (A.) 3; time, 25sec. Second heat. A. R. P. Eustace (A.) 1. B. Cowley (Wo.) 2 ’THREE-MILE WALK. New Zealand record and best New Zealander s performance: 21min 11 4-ssec, R. M. Lamberton (WC, N. 1.). 1947. Title holder: R. M. lumber ton (W.C., N. 1.), 2lmin 18 4-ssec. a Emberton (W.C.. N.I) 1. JR. Hyslop (O) 2, A. W. Beasley (O.) 3. Time. 22min 50 4-ssec. Won by 150 yards, 600 yards. FIELD EVENTS POLE VAULT. World’s record: 15ft 73in. New Zealand record: 12ft 4Jin, D. Welchert (W.C.. N. 1.). 1940 - Best New Zealander’s performance: 12ft OJin, W. Heron (A.), 1946. Title holder: W. Heron (A.), lift 71in.—A. L. Fagg (O.), lift Oin. 1; W. Heron (A.), lift OJin, 2; A. R. Martin (O.) and J. H. Borland (C.), 10ft, equal, 3. Fagg and Heron tied at lift ofm but Fagg won on the count back. THROWING THE DISCUS. Worlds record- 175 ft. New Zealand record: 156 ft OJin, A. L. Hershey (U.S.A.), 1947. Best New Zealander’s performance: 143 ft 311 n, A. A. Cameron (O.). 1937 Title holder. A. E. Redmond (A.), 123 ft 9in - — A. E. Redmond (A.). 122 ft lOJin, 1: I. Gardiner (O.). 120 ft lOin, 2; K. O Connor (O.), 115 ft lljin, 3. BROAD JUMP. World’s record. 26ft B!in. New Zealand repord: 23ft 103 in, J? P. Metcalfe (N.S.W.), 1934. Best New Zealander’s performance: 23ft 3in, G. PKeddell (S.), 1906 (a better performance by S. R. Dawson has not yet been officially recognised). Title bolder: P. V. Goddard (A.). 22ft 2Jin— D. Dephoff (C.), 22ft 611 n, 1; S. R. Dawson (O.), 22ft 6in, 2- K. Forsythe (W.). 22ft liln, 3.

lenged strongly up the straight, but the Otago man stalled him off to win by a yard, the former junior champion, N. Bates (West Coast, North Island), being 10 yards back third. This was the third consecutive year that Marshall has been runner-up at this distance.

The Three Mile Walk Championship resulted in a hollow win for the title holder, R. Lamberton, of West Coast (North Island), in the good time of 22min 50 4-ssec. At the outset, the race looked like resolving itself into a dual between Lamberton and D. Hingston, formerly of Hawke’s BayPoverty Bay and now of Wellington, but the latter was “ called off ” for lifting, and Lamberton had no difficulty in winning by 150 yards from a former champion, J. R. Hyslop (Otago). Field Event Upsets The title holder, W. Heron (Auckland), was beaten in the Pole Vault Championship after a spirited struggle ■with A. L. Fagg (Otago), who won his first nationl championship on the count-back after two men nad tied at lift OJin. Both men failed at lift sJin. Although this was Fagg’s first championship success, at one time he had the best New Zealander’s performance which was about five inches greater than his winning height yesterday. There was a further upset in the Broad Jump championship in which the much fancied Otago representative, S. R. Dawson,, was beaten by the' narrow margin of a quarter of an inch by D. Dephoff (Canterbury), who cleared 22ft 61 in, third place going to K. Forsythe (Wellington), with 22ft lsin. All the men found the conditions somewhat trying, and Dawson did not appear confident in coming up to the board, with the result tnat several times he took off inches behind it. When the final stages were reached he looked like winning, but Dephoff shaded the Otago man’s best performance with his second last jump to give Canterbury first points. Dephoff is the New Zealand junior record holder A. E. Redmond, of Auckland, retained his Discus Throwing title with a performance of 122ftr 10£in, about a foot less than his winning throw last year. The North Otago athlete, I. Gardiner, was second with a throw of 120 ft lOin, and the well-known Otago representative Rugby player, K. O’Connor,' gave Otago third points with 115 ft lljin. Fast Sprinting

NON-CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS 75 Yards Women’s Handicap.—L. G. Nelson (Dunedin) 1, M. Ives (Otago) 2, J. Bishop (Otago) 3. Time, 8 4-ssec. 100 Yards Open Handicap.—A. H.Blair (Mornington), 7yds, 1; J. Browett (St. Kilda), Byds, 2; A. Cubitt (Caversham), 3. Time, 10 2-ssec. 100 Yards Secondary Schools’ Race.—B. S. Gosney (King’s H.S.) 1, A. J. Scorgle (King’s H.S.) 2, B. Parke (Otago 8.H.5.) 3. Time, 11 l-ssec. 880 Yards Open Handicap.—G. McMillan (Civil Service), 55yds, 1; B. Frude (Civil Service), 55yds, 2; P. Munro (Napier), 45yds, 3. Time, lmin 59 2-ssec. 880 Yards Secondary Schools’ Race.—B. A. Lawson (Otago 8.H.5.) 1, M. V/. Taylor (King’s H.S.) 2, J. G. Skelton (King s H.S.) 3. Time, 2min 21sec.

The fastest heat of the 100 Yards Championship was won by A. R. P. Eustace, the Auckland champion, who returned lOsec dead, while the present title holder, D. R. Batten, of Canterbury, took 10 2-ssec to win the second hegt from R. Sherborne (Wellington), who was runner-up last year. The two heats of the 220 Yards Championship were each won in 22 3-ssec. C. Parker, who won the Waikato 100 Yards Championship in lOsec and the 220 Yards in 22 2-ssec, rar impressively to defeat Batten in the first heat, while J. G. C. Myles (Auckland), co-holder of the New Zealand Junior 100 Yards record, won the second heat from P. Henderson (WesL Coast, North Island). J. C. Grierson, Auckland’s Olympic candidate won easily in his heat of the 440 Yards Championship, his 49 l-ssee being a splendid performance under the conditions. The second heat was won by an Otago University athlete, H. Rainey, who carried Wellington's colours to victory in 51 sec. Rainey is a newcomer to national championship competition, and, although lacking in experience, displays great promise. The 220 Yards Hurdles Championship final promises to be fought out by the two Auckland men, Eustace, the present title holder, and J. M. Holland, the 440 Yards Hurdles champion. Holland got within two-fifths of a second of Eustace’s record of 24 3-ssec in winning his heat. Eustace taking 26sec for his neat. At the conclusion of the first day the points for the championship shield,