DAY OF SENSATIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1948, Page 5

DAY OF SENSATIONS

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter

Gruelling Test Of Olympic Marathon

. Copyright)

LONDON, August 7. Eorty-one marathon. runners, after eompletihg one and threequarters' laps of the stadium, set ol¥ to the crowd's applause on the gruelling 26 inile road race, oh the last day of the Olympic Games. As the runners entered the stadium at the finish, some ' were barely able. to drag themselveg around the track: Ambulance men attended some runners as soon as they finished. The winner, Cabrora (Argentina) and Richards (Britain). who finished second, both mountecl the rostrum of honour with agility and showed no sighs of the severe test they had undergone, but Gailly (Belgium) had not rbcovered sufficiently to enable him to attend the victory ceremony. and receive a bronze medal for third. Gailly, a comparatively unknown marathon runner led for the greater part of the race. Choi (Korea) took the lead at 22 niiles but only held it on sufferance. Over the last mile, Cabrora and Gailly drew away from him •* Gailly entered the stadium first and -the police had diffieulty in clearing the way for him. Cab rora was 'close behind him. Gailly staggered oir to the arena for the final lap and Cabrora passed him ■200 yards from the finishing line. Soon after Richards ran past the exhausted Belgian. Cabrora won by about 70 yards. Gailly staggered across the line 150 yards behind Richards and i then collapsecl. He was" carried from the arena on a stketcher. -After easilv winning the 10,000 nietres walk, Mikaelpson (Swerlen") reelecl off the track, picked up a chair. threw it away and then got down-on his liands and knees and would not allow anyone neat him.- He pushed an official away after crawling round on his hands and knees like a baby, collapsed and la5r there till a countrvman, Johansson, came in second and assisted him to hi? feet/ Mikaelsson seemed u'nable temporarily to cooi'dinate his movements buts later reCovered completelv. The first 'five competitors smashed the Olympic record but Mikaelsson 's winning time was worse than his hea t winning effprt of 45min 3sec. Americans Disqualified There was a 'sensation in the final of the 400 metres relay when Anierica was disqualified after passing the line nearly 12 yards ahead of Britain. Tlie reason for the disqualification was that America's first runner, Ewell, had taken thor,e than the permitted ten , metres to . pass. the baton to the second runner, Wriglrt:' . Tliere was a mighty eheer from the cro'wd when the result was posted givi'ng Britain her" firs. athletics win. The Americans, un aware that a disqualification was possible, congratulated each other and were standing chatting to the Britisli team in front of the victory stand. They took the news sportingiy. There was a shock in the third lap of the men 's 400 metres relay when Wint (Jamaica) pulled up, staggered off the track 011 -to the grass, fell to tlie ground and lay face clown beating the ground with his hand containing the baton. He suffered sudden cranij in the right leg. America won the race comfortably. Australia lost its second gold medal by inches when Blankers-Koen, running last for Holland, beat Australia 's number fojir, King, ^n a photd finish im.ttlje women 's 400 metres relav. XJnrivalled Swimmers America won its eleventh swimming title when J. Verduer won the 200 metres men 's breaststroke. Ann Curtis won the 400 metres freestyle. piympiil reeords were .siiiashed"in Jipth; ,ey.erits; Curtis 's time was almost 10 sedond.s better than the- old record. M'cLane (America) defeated Marshall (Australia) by about 20 metres in the 1500 metres freestyle. It was a , great race to' 400 metres when McLane. went away to- a ;eqmnia,nding- lead \ Marshall was F.on '?Ie\ei,t.: terpis; -fwitli! MeLane at 13*00 metres 'but at 1400 : metres the American again took tlm lead. He began the 1500 metres thretvards in front. Marshall appeared to tire over the last three laps but McLaiie was - still * swimming powerfully. Tho res't of the field was outclassed. McLane's win gave America every men's individual swimming title. America captured 12 of the 15 gold tnedals awarded in acquatic events, were runners-up in 11 events and established six new Olympic record.-, afld one world record.