AMERICAN ATHLETES' TOUR

Chronicle (Levin), 19 November 1946, Page 6

AMERICAN ATHLETES' TOUR

The oJlichd luiiiouncemenl that at lea.sf two toji-lijic American uthletes will tour New Zcauaiul this season makes pleasant reading. ALliletes in this eountiy, like practieally all otlier Ijiancltes of competiive sport, have suffered as the resuit of inevitable wartiine restrictions on visits by overseas teanis. The standard in scveral instanees, however, is as liigh as it lias been for years and, .in fact, there were two or three New Zeaiand athletes last year. who were bordering on world class. b. M. Harris. the national quarter and half-mile clmmpion and reeord holder, is a ease in point. The opinion lias long been held that New Zeaiand has not yet seen Harris at his best, pricipallv because there do not appear to be any nviddle distance runners in the TDominion capable of fully extending liim. . His clashos, therefore, with Fulton, the American 1500 metres champion, who is cotning here this season, will be awaited with the keenest of interest and will probablv equal, from the public 's poiut of view, tlie interest taken in-the races between the Ameri can Llovd Tlahn and the Wairarapa fariner, Kandolph Kose, some 20 years

back. Auckland will probablv see the visitors in aetion on two occasions, tlie second lieing just before Ihe national track and lield championsliips, (o be held at Kden Park early in March of next year.