CRACKING UP OLYMPIC RUNNERS

Grey River Argus, 9 August 1948, Page 5

CRACKING UP OLYMPIC RUNNERS

SATURDAY'S EXCITING EVENTS' (Received August 8, at 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 7. Eighty-two thousand people packed the Wembley Stadium on Saturday for the final day of the Olympic Games. Cabrora, of Argentina, won the Marathon.

The Marathon Forty-one Marathon runners, after completing one and tnree-quarter iaps 01 tne Stadium, set oif, to tne ciuwu's appiause, on their gruelling twenty-six mile road race. Where the runners entered the Stadium again at the finish, some were barely aoly to drag themselves around tne track. Amouiance men attended some of the runners as soon as they finished. The winner was Cabrora of Argentina. Richards of Britain finisned second, ihuse two mounted the rostrum of honour with agility. They showed no signs of the severe test they under-, went. Gailly, of Belgium, was in third place. He had not recovered sufficiently to enable him to attend the victory ceremony to receive his bronze medal for third. Gailly, who is comparatively unknown as a marathon runner, led for me greater part, of the race. Choi, of Korea, took the lead at twenty-two miles, but he only held it on sufferance. Over the last mile, cabrora and Gailly drew away from the Korean. Gailly entered the Stadium first. The police had difficulty in clearing the way for him. Cabrora was close behind him. Gailly then staggered onto the arena for the final lap. Cabrora passed him two hundred yards from the finishing line. Soon after, Richards ran past the exhausted Belgian. Cabrora won by about seventy yards. Gailly staggered across the line 150 yards behind Richards. Then he collapsed. He was carried from the arena on a stretcher. Results: — D. Cabrora (Argentina) 1. T. Richards (Britain) 2. E. Gailly (Belgium) 3. Time, two hours, thirty-four minutes, 51.6 seconds. 1600 Metres Final.—H. Eriksson (Sweden), 1; L. Strand (Sweden), 2; W. Slijkiiuis (Holland) 3. Time 3min 49.8 sec. Women’s 200 Metres Final —F. Blankers-Coen (Holland) 1; A. Williamson (Britain) 2; A. Patterson (America) 3; S. Strickland (Australia) 4; M. Walker (Britain) 5; D. Robb (South Africa) 6. Time 24.45ec. WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP Final: A. Cocahman (America) 1: D. J. Tyler (Britain) 2; M. Ostcrmeyer (France) 3. Height: sft 6 1-8 in., a new Olympic record. TEN THOUSAND METRES WALK Final: Mikaelsson (Sweden) 1; Johannson (Sweden) 2; Schwab (Switzerland) 3. Time 49min 13.2 sec. Minaeisson, after easily winning, reeled off the track. He picked up a chair, threw it away, then got down on his hands and knees. He would not allow anyone near him. He pushed an official away. After crawling round on his hands and knees like a baby, he collapsed and lay there till a countryman, Johansson came in second, and assisted him to his feet. Mikaelsson seemed unable temporarily to coordinate his movements, but later he recovered completely. The first five of the competitors smashed the Olympic record, but Mikaelsson’s winning time was worse than his heat winning effort, of fortyfive minutes three seconds. FOUR HUNDRED METRES RELAY The American team easily wont the first heat of the 400 metres relay. The, further the event went the rurther they were ahead. The French runner, Valmy, broke down and cried when he dropped the baton in the third heat. The heat was run in heavy rain and the baton was greasy. France was in a winning position when the baton slipped from Valmy’s hand. , In the third lap of the men’s 400 metres relay, there was a > shock when Wint (Jamaica) pulled up, staggered off the track on to the grass, fell to the ground, and lay face down, beating the ground witn the hand containing the baton. He suffered a sudden cramp in his right leg. However, America, won the race comfortably. First neat: America (Ewell, Wright, Dillard, Patton), 1; Italy 2; Brazil 3. Time 41.1 sec. Second heat: Britain (McCorquodale, Gregory, Jones, Archer) 1; Hungary 2; Australia 3. Time 41.4 sec. Third heat: Holland (Scholten, Lammers, Lieyn, Swaan), 1; Canada 2; Argentine 3. Time 41.7 sec.

r’inal (4 x 100): Britain (McCorquodale, Gregory, Jones, Archer) 1; Italy 2, Hungary 3. Time 41.3 secs. America was first over the line, and there was a sensation when America was disqualified after passing the line nearly twelve yards ahead of Britain. The reason for the disqualification was that America’s first runner, Ewell, had taken more than the permitted ten metres to pass the batton to the second runner, Wright. There was a mighty cheer from the crowd when the result was then posted, giving Britain her first athletics win. ‘The Americans weer not aware that a disqualification was possible. They congratulated each other. Standing chatting to the British team in front of the victory stand, they took the news of disqualification sportingly. 1609 Metres Relay America won a thrill-packed first heat of the 1600 metres relay after Britain and Italy had each held the lead. x .. . The Jamaicans had no trouble in winning the second heat, and the thi.d heat, from which the Australians withdrew was a tame affair, Finland winning. . ZZ-, I , First heat: America (Cochran, Bourland, Harmden, Whitfield), 1, Italy 2; Britain 3. Time 3mm 12.5 sec. Second heat: Jam T s* ca (Rhoden, McKenzie, Wint, McKinley) 1; France 2: Canada 3. Time 3min Msec. Third heat: Finland (Holmberg, Storskrubb, Suvanto Talja) 1; Sweden, 2; Argentine 3. Time, 3min 20.6 sec. The final (4 x 400) resulted: Angelica 1, France 2, Sweden 3. Time 3.10.45ec5. Record Holder Beaten Sweden’s world record-holder, Strand, in the final of the 1500 metres lost to his team-mate Eriksson, who has been second to him on many occasions It was a great race, but tne t Se was s.2sec outside Strand’s world time and Lovelock’s Olympic record was not bettered. WOMEN’S 400 METRES Relay (4 x 100): First heat.—Canada (Myers, Mackay, Foster,. Jones) 1; Australia 2; France 3. Time 47.9 sec. Second heat: Britain (Manley, Pletts Walker Gardner) 1; Australia 9 Chile 3. Time 48.4 secs. Third heat: Holland (Blanker-Caen

Jong, Witziers-Timmec, Van Derkade) 1; Denmark 2; America 3. Time 47.6 S6CS Final: Holland 1, Australia 2, Canada 3. Time 47.4 secs. Australia lost a second gold medal by inches on Saturday, when Miss Blankers-Koen, running last for Holland, beat Australia’s No. 4, Miss King in a photo finish in the women’s 400 metres relay. CHAMPION DUTCH WOMAN. On Friday, Mrs. Blankers-Coen (Holland), the mother of two children, proved herself the world s greatest woman runner when, she won.the 200 metres final. She is the world i’ecord holder of the high jump. She ran magnificently on a wet track to gain an Olympic triple crown. She did not gain her usual fast getaway, but her long legs soon carried her to the front. Half-way down the straight she was two yards ahead of the Australian girl, Miss Shirley Strickland. Misses Williamson and Patterson, finishing strongly, joined Miss Strickland just before the post. The trio fought out a photo-finish for the places with the crowd roaring them on. Only inches separated them. U.S.A. Clean Up In Swimming America captured 12 of the 15 gold medals awarded in the aquatic events. Americans were runnersup in 11 events and they established six new Olympic records and one world record. 1,500 Metres Men’s Freestyle. Final: McLane (America) 1; Marshall (Australia) 2; Metro (Hungary) 3. Time 19min. 18.5 secs. 200 Metres Breaststroke. Final: Verduer (America) 1; Carter (America) 2; Sohl (America) 3. Times: Verduer 2min. 39.35ec5.; Carter, 2min. 40.2 secs. Both broke the Olympic record. - Marshall had a very easy win in the first semi-final of the 1,500 metres freestyle swim. He turned for the final 100 metres 12 yards ahead of M'itro, and finished strongly with a 20-yards lead. He came second in the final. 100 Metres Backstrbke Final. —A. Stack (America) 1; R. Cowell (America) 2; G. Vallerey (France) 3. Time, 66.45ec. 200 Metres Breaststroke First semi-final A. Kandill (Egypt) 1; W. Jordan (Brazil? 2, R. Sohl (America) 3. Time 2min 43.75ecSecond semi-final. —V. Verdeur (America) 1; K. Carter (America) 2; B. Bonte (Holland) 3. Time 2min 40.7 sec (a new Olympic record). Women's 400 Metres Relay Final.—America (M. Corridon, B. Heiser, T. Ha'.ana, A. Curtis) 1; Denmark 2; Holland 3. Time 4min 29.2 sec (a new Olympic record). Women’s High Diving Final: V. Draves (America) 1; P. Elsener (America) 2; B. Christoifersen (Denmark- 3. Points, 68.87. Miss Victoria Draves won the womens’ high-board diving title and is the only woman to win this Olympic high-board and springboard titles. Women’s 400 Metres Freestyle. Final: A. Curtis (America) 1; K. Harup (Denmark) 2; C. Gibson (Britain) 3. Times: Curtis smin. 17.8 secs.; Harup smin. 21.2 sec; Gibson smin. 22.5 secs. All broke the Olympic records. MISS LANE “I am afraid I find these big events a bit too much for me,” said Miss Ngaire Lane, the New Zealand Olympic swimmer, after finishing seventh in the semi-final of the women’s 100 metres backstroke. She appeared to start rather too deeply, and soon began to .fall back. She lost ground steadily and finished second last in slower time than in her first heat. “Conditions in this pool are excellent and all one could wish for,” she said, “but I am afraid I cannot do my best on these occasions.” She did not intend to compete again in international events, but to confine her swimming to championships in New Zealand. A Stockholm newspaper, Aftonbladet, says the military authorities declared the Olympic gold medal walker, John Ljuggren, unfit for military service because he is flat-foot-ed. Water Polo. France beat Spain 2/1; Sweden beat Egypt 3/2; Holland and Hungary drew, four each. o Final: Italy 4, defeated Holland 2. Final placings: Italy 1; Hungary 2; Holland 3; Belgium 4; Sweden 5; Egypt 6; Spaii- 7. Italy was unbeaten in the whole series. U.S. Successes In Aquatics America won its eleventh swimming title when J. Verduer won the 200 metres men’s breastroke, and he broke the record. Ann Curtis (U.S.A.) won the women’s 400 metres freestyle. She broke the Olympic record. Her time was almost ten seconds better than the old record. , _ T McClane (America) defeated Marshall (Australia) by about 20 metres in the 1500 metres freestyle swim. It was a great race up to 400 metres, when McClane went away to a commanding lead. Marshall was on level terms with McClane at 1300 metres, but at 1400 metres the American again took the lead. He began the 1500 metres three yards m front. Marshall apeared to tire over the last three laps, but McClane was still swimming powerfully. The rest of the field was outclassed. McClane s win gave America every men’s individual swimming title Rowing SINGLE SCULLS. First semi-finals: R. Catasta (Italy) 1; T. C'appozzi (Argentine) 2. Time Bmin. s.4secs. . /TT I Second semi-final: G. Risso (Uruguay).!; J. B. Kelly (America) 2. Time Bmin. 9.3sces. Third semi-final: M. Wood (Australia) 1: J. Senhariades (France) 2. Time Bmin. B.ssecs. John Kelly was sensationally beaten in a single sculls semi-final by Risso (Uruguay). Risso made a remarkable burst and caught Kelly two yards from the line, which he crossed two feet feet ahead. A downpour of rain however, almost. blotted out the finish. AUSTRALIAN’S CHANCE Merv Wood (Australia) easily defeated Sepheriaoes (France) in his semi-final. He is almost certain. to win the single sculls title, following

the defeat of Kelly, his strongest rival. DOUBLE SCULLS. First semi-final: Britain 1; America 2. Time 7min. .Isec. Second semi-final: Denmark 1; Italy 2. Time smin. 48.3 secs. Third semi-final: Uruguay 1; France 2. Time Smin. 3.2 secs. PAIRS WITHOUT COX. First semi-final: Switzerland 1; Australia 2. Time 7min. 47.3 secs. Second semi-final: Italy 1; Denmark 2. Time 7.min. 54.3 secs. PAIRS WITH COX. First semi-final: Denmark 1; France 2. Time Smin. 12.1 secs. FOURS W'ITHOUT COX. First semi-final: Italy 1; Holland 2. Time 7min. 15secs. Second semi-finals: Denmark 1; Britain 2. Time 7min. 13.Ssecs. Third semi-final: America 1; South Africa 2. Time 7min. 42.2 secs. FOURS WITHOUT COX. First semi-'final: America 1; France 2. Time 7min. 22.1 secs. Second semi-final: Denmark 1; Hungary 2. Time 7min. 31.3 secs. Third semi-final: America 1; Italy 2. Time 6min, 36.5 secs. Fourth semi-final: Britain 1; Canada 2. Time 6min. 38.1 secs, Rifle Shooting Three hundred metres full-bore free rifle: Emil Grunig (Switzerland) 1120 points 1; P. Yanhomen (Finland) 1113 T.Mints 2; W. Roegeberg (Norway) 1110 points 3. Fencing Final round. —France defeated Italy, 11/5; Sweden defeated Denmark 8/7. Yachting Six-metre class—-Sweden 1; Argentine 2; United States 3. Swallow class Britain 1; Italy 2. Firefly class Sweden 1; Canada 2; Australia 3. Britain leads in the swallow class with 405-1 points. Sweden and Norway- are equal in the Dragon class with 3340 points and the United States leads the six-metre class with 3489 points. Cycling 400 Metres Team Pursuit. First quarter-finals: Britain 1; Denmark 2. Time smin. ,9secs. Second quarter-finals: Uruguay 1; Australia 2. Time smin. 3.ssecs. Third quairter-finals: France 1; Switzerland 2. Time smm. ,ssecs. ' Fourth quarter-final: Italy 1; Belgium 2. Time 4min. 59secs. 1,000 Metres Cycling Sprint. First quarter-finals: Ghella (Italy) 1; Van De Velde (Belgium! 2 . Second quarter-finals: Schandorf (Denmark) 1; Heid (America) 2.. Third quarter-finals: Harris (Britain) 1; Masalnes (Chile) 2. The' fourth quarter-final will be decided on Monday.