AMERICAN ATHLETES SEEN IN WELLINGTON

Chronicle (Levin), 3 February 1947, Page 5

AMERICAN ATHLETES SEEN IN WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, Feb. 2. The inability of Johu Fulton, eaptaiq of the visiting American athletic team and one of the world 's leading middle distance runners, to eompete on ac [ eount of his leg injury, robbed the big | sports meeting at Athletic Park on | Saturday of its main attraction — a fur j thcr elash between him and his eonqueror, D. M. Ilarris, New Z'ealand j champion. Main interest was trans ! ferred to the possibility of Harris eclipsing the world 's re.cord for th. j half'-mile in a special handicap event. The weather was fine and the trade j fast but a stiif northerly wiud mad" j any record breaking out of the questioa. Finishing into the breeze Harris re turned lmin 55 4-5sec, completely oul _ elassing his .opponents in the proeess. It was a fine effort under the conditions Later in the day he took part in the handicap 440 yards' event again to bea: his opponents, pointlessly clocking 4b 2-5see. Campbell had no trouble in winning the invitation 100 yards and 220 yards scratch events, running in effortless style. Hershey, - a maguilieently propqj-- ] tioned athlete, was always the centre ot attraction though he broke no records. His displays were most impressive. Despite the absence of one of the main drawcards for the meeting, there was an attendance of 7000, the gate takings being £400.