AMERICAN ATHLETES AT AUCKLAND

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5306, 20 January 1947, Page 5

AMERICAN ATHLETES AT AUCKLAND

O J. Grierson and R. Agate Uphold New Zealand

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Threc American athletes were a ' big draw card at the Olympic Stadi11 m yesterday, when over 10,000 people saw some memorable performances by the visitors and leading Aucklanders in competition. In one o-f the fastest half-miles iccorded in New Zealand, J. Grierson, national mile champion, and D. Harris, New Zealand record and titleholder, beat the American, John I'ulton, into third place, in 1.51 3-5. D011 Campbell, the United States sprinting exponent, beat R. Agate in the 100 yards, bixt the tables were turnecl between them in the 220 yards. Al Hershey won the shot put and was third in the discus throw. With less than 300 yards to go in the half-mile, Fulto-n was in f'ront, but he soon came back to the field. Harris and Grierson moved out together at the lialf-way mark. When they entered the straight, Grierson had a 15 yards' advantage on Harris, who Was only a yard and . a-half behind at the tape. Fulton, who appeared to be run out, was 15 yards away.

It appeared that the American had thrown away a winning chance by a burst of speed in the first quarter, wiiich he ran in 55 secc-nds, but for his first race on grass, it was an implessive performance. After the race, Fulton said that Harris and Grierson were two of the best half-milers he had run against. In a special 100 yards' race, Don Campbell beat the. dual national sprint champion, Ron Agate, by two feet, with L. Shenkin, last year's Auckland junior champion, a similar distance away, third.

Results of the invitation races were : — 100 yards: D. Campbell (U.S.A.) 3 , R. Agate 2, L. Shenkin 3. Time ] 10 1-5. 220 yards: A. Eustace (6yds) 1, R. Agate (scr) 2, C. Masters (8yds) 3, D. Campbell (scr) 4. 880 yards: J. Grierson (15yds) 1, D. M. Harris 2, J. Fulton (U.S.A.) 3. Time 1.51 3-5. Shot out: L. Hershey, U.S.A. (scr) 1; C. S. Main (7ft 3in), 2; C. P. Culav (7ft 9in), 3. Distance 50ft 15'in. Discus throw: E. S. Phillips (43ft) 1. W. S. Hookway (37ft) 2, A. L. Hershey, (scr) 3. Distance 159ft 2in. 4-fO yards: D. Otway (20yds) 1, R. B. Robinson (20yds) 2, J. Holland (12yds) 3. Time 48 3-5. Relay (4 in team, 110yds) : U.S. team 1, Auckland 2, Western Suburbs 3. Time 32 4-5.