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Otago and Auckland Dominate Athletics

Otago and Auckland dominated the Tournament athletics held at the Basin Reserve over two days.

Otago's R. Johnson and Sylvia Oxenham were the outstanding competitors. Johnson won the three hurdle events, the long jump, and gained third place in the high jump.

Sylvia Oxenham defeated all comers in the 80 metres hurdles, 440 yards 220 yards, and the high jump. She was third in the record breaking 100 yards, and was the final runner in the record breaking Otago worn ens' relay team.

Five records were broken over the two days.

D. W. McKenzie (Canterbury) won his heat of the 100 yards in 9.9 chopping one-tenth of a second from the record.

Miss J. Loneley (Auckland) won the women's 100 yards in 11.5 seconds, one-tenth of a second under the previous record.

Auckland's Alison Long retained her women's long jump title and set a new mark of 17ft 9¼ in.

In the three miles, P. Welch (Otago) clipped over six seconds from the record with a time of 14 minutes 26 seconds.

The Otago women's 4 x 110 relay team recorded a time of 51.8 seconds to better the existing mark by 2 of a second.

Otago's Johnson was unfortunate in not being credited a long jump record. In what must have been a very frustrating experience he bettered the record distance of 22ft 10¾ ins with two leaps of 23ft and 22ft 11 in only to have them disallowed because of wind assistance. His next jump was 24ft 1 in but was also disregarded as he just overstepped the "no jump" mark.

The mile produced an exciting finish. B. Jones from Canterbury set the pace for the first three circuits but in the final lap McDell and Ibbotson fought out a thrilling battle with Ibbotson energing triumphant in 4 minutes 18.7 seconds eight yards clear from McDell.

In the men's 440 A. Osborne (Victoria) who ran with distinction in the national championships ran a beautifully judged race from the inside lane to hold a five yard lead gained from Otago's B. Fox, and win in 49.2 seconds.

The men's 880 proved to be Monday's most exciting race. Almost from the start. Rae from Auckland was in front, followed by P. Hewlett from Canterbury and Cam Murray from Victoria.

At the bell Murray pushed himself into the lead with a strong burst and held his place until the 300 yard mark.

Then McDell from Auckland who had made second place in the mile on the Saturday and Otago's Ibbotson, the winner of that event, streamed past with McDell two yards in front.

At the 220 mark McDell was still hanging on to his slender lead, but Ibbotson was running more strongly and in a punishing final sprint overcame the tiring McDell to win by two yards with a time of 1,55.9 seconds.

Victoria were top dogs in the men's relay racing With slick baton changes and consistent running they emerged clear winners in both the 4 x 110 and the 4 x 440.

The final points for the men's Championship were: Auckland 46, Otago 45, Canterbury 43, Victoria 28, Massey 9. The women's results were: Otago 37, Auckland 31, Victoria 13, Canterbury 4.

(Detailed results were published in The Dominion and other daily newspapers—Editors).