FAST HALF-MILES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27307, 6 February 1950, Page 5

FAST HALF-MILES

D. M. HARRIS WITHDRAWS

From the Sports Editor

AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. The v heats of the 880 Yards were both won in fast times, and there are good prospects of a stirring final. The most impressive form was shown by the brilliant Englishman, H. J. Harlett, who won the second heat. The winner’s time was lmin 52.1 sec—less than a second slower than the late V. P. Boot’s Empire record. The South African, S. D. Booysen, .and the New Zealand champion, C. Simpson, fought out a great battle for third place, Booysen prevailing over the Otago man in a photo-finish. The feature of the first heat was the failure of the Olympic runner,.D. M. Harris, who carried New Zealand’s hopes. Harris led over the-first lap from the Canadian, C. W. Parnell, but the latter forged ahead entering the second lap. Parnell looked an easy winner until the former national junior champion, N. T. O. Wilson, who is in his first year as a senior, unwound a great burst over the last 100 yards to finish only two yards behind Parnell. Wilson beaf“ D. L. White, Australia, in a photo-finish. Both Wilson and Simpson ran the fastest half miles of their careers. Harris withdraw in his heat and limped off the track, stating afterwards that he had tom adhesions in his -right leg a fortnight ago and was able to do comparatively little work since then.