Negro Athletes Seen In Action

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1949, Page 7

Negro Athletes Seen In Action

• press Assactatton)

(Pei

AUCKLAND, Feb. 6. Two of the finest Negro athletes in the world, Herbert Mclvenley, of Janiaica, hohler of the world record for 400 metres, and Lloyd la Beach, Panama, who finished third in the 200 metres at the Olympic Games last year, opened a short New Zealand tour yesterday and in spite of the fatigue caused by overnight air travel from Sydney, dispiayed excellent form. La Beach was beaten out of a place 'by three Aucklanders lieaded by C. E. Masters, former Second N.Z.E.F. cham-' pion, in an invitation 100 yards but he won the scratch 220 yards race in 21 4-5 secs from Mclvenley and C. Pafker. Waikato champion. In an invitation 440 yards event, Mclvenley lieaded the New Zealand cham pion J. 0. Grierson, by 15 yards in 48 1-5 secs, remarkable time considefing that the track was deadened by a heavy fall of rain just before the nieeting opened. Mclvenley dispiayed magnificent foriu and if he strikes the riglit conditions, sliould easily lower the New Zealand record of 47 4-5 secs lield by D. M. Harris. A feature of the meeting Avas tlie exceptionally fine half-niile run by the Auckland junior, N. T. O. Wilson, who broke the national junior record by more than two seconds in recording 1 min. 55 S-5 secs. The track, when measured, was found to be 17 inches over the. 880 yards and an application for a national record wiil accordingly be made. McKenley and la Beach will also appear at Christchurch and Wellington in the short New Zealand tour. 'Mclvenley said, in an interview, that he will return to Australia later in the year and will probably compete in the Empire Games in Auckland next February,