Records Go At

Vila Meeting

MORE than a dozen national and all-comers’ records were broken when a team of athletes from New Caledonia com peted against a New Hebridean team in Vila on November 18.

Didier Lacabane of New Cale donia won the men’s 200 metres in an all-comers’ record time of 22.6 sec. But Seru Korikalo (New Hebrides) beat Lacabane in the men’s 100 metres in 11.2 sec. (The New Hebrides record holder for 100 metres, Charles Godden, was unable to compete because of injury).

Other all-comers’ records to be set by the visiting athletes were: Yannick Blanc’s, 800 metres in 2 min. 1.09 sec.; Rene Drain’s, 1,500 metres in 4 min. 25.3 sec.; Jacques Wawaanabu’s, high jump of 5 ft 9 in.; and Vidal Harper’s, 123 ft 11 in. throw in the mens’ discus.

The men’s 4 x 100 metres relay, in which the New Hebrides team was narrowly beaten, was won in a record time of 43.1 sec.

In the women’s events, Saria of the New won both the 100 and 200 metres, the latter in all-comers’ record time of 26.5 sec.

Saani Maafi, also of the New Hebrides, won the shot put with a new record put of 35 ft KHin., the discus being won by Jenny Nigote, New Caledonia, with a record throw of 110 ft 11 in.

Merilyn Rose Leo, New Hebrides, won the long jump from Marie Aka Awa, New Caledonia; and Toupuku, New Hebrides, equalled the new all-comers’ record for the high jump of 4 ft 4i in. with Monique Lacombe, of New Caledonia.

At the end of the meeting, both teams were presented by the president of the New Hebrides Amateur Athletic Association to the British and French Resident Commissioners.