AUSTRALIAN VISIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26634, 3 December 1947, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN VISIT

DOMINION ATHLETES LIKELY CANDIDATES p.A WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. As a result of advice from the Australian Athletic Union that it would be prepared to invite New Zealand middle and distance runners to compete in its championships in Melbourne on January 24 and 26, if they had performances up to last year’s Australian times of 48.5 sec, lmin 55sec and 4min 18sec, the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to-night decided to submit a list of likely candidates The treasurer, Mr J. W. Holley, said the A.A.U. had originally intended to invite D. M. Harris, but that now appeared out of the question. There were two, or possibly three, athletes at present in New Zealand who were very near the required standard Grierson (Auckland) for the 440 Yards, Grierson and Waller (Wellington) for the Half Mile, and W. H. Nelson (Otago), Marshall (Auckland), and Grierson for the Mile. Replying to a question as to the effect of such a trip on the training schedule of athletes for the New Zealand Championships and on their prospects for the Olympic Games, Mr Holley said there was always the prospect that they might return better performances in Australia than in this country, thus enhancing their prospects. It would be necessary to stipulate that the journey would have to be by air both ways. The chairman, Mr H. I. Austad, remarked that the proposal might have beneficial effects on the proposal to bring an Australian team to this country in 1949 to inaugurate contests between the two countries ' Messrs J. W. Holley and A. C. Kitto were empowered to make recommendations of likely candidates. To offset the possibility of likely Olympic Games candidates having their prospects marred should the weather be> wet for the National Championships,* Messrs Beattie and Holley were authorised to attend centre meetings to ensure candidates being seen at. some stage at their best under good conditions.