1956 Olympics Part 2 of 6

And Kashkarov of Russia third in this climax of the opening day. Beginning the second day of competition, the 50 kilometer walk. Leading in black is the man to watch. He's Norman Reed, an independent competitor who had to pay his own way to the games from New Zealand. Take it easy now fellas, you've got 31 miles to go. Meantime, in the hammer throw ring, Lieutenant Al Hall of the Army shows the form and power which go into the making of a hammer thrower. Russia's Krivonosov. But the favorite of the fans is history teacher Hal Connolly, who took up the hammer to strengthen a weak left arm. His toss sails 207 feet three and a half inches to beat out Krivonosov and Samotsvatov of Russia. Nice going, teach. The women's hundred meter dash. A howling Aussie crowd sees 18-year-old Betty Cuthbert scat down the cinders to set a new Olympic record of 11 and a half seconds. The pretty Australian miss is the youngest girl ever to win a gold medal, with Germany's Stubnick second and Matthews of Australia third. Now a new cheer goes up from the crowd as Norman Reed comes in to win the 50 kilometer hike in just over four and a half hours. Smiling broadly, Norm takes this event, as you might say, in a walk. Melbourne's modernistic swimming stadium is packed as Gary Tobayan opens the high diving competition. Here's Mexico's Juan Capilla in a double backflip. Pasadena's Dick Conner in a back one and a half. Tobayan follows with a beautiful two and a half gainer and then for his final dive, a running one and a half with full twist. It's championship form, but it doesn't match Capilla's tapper. A perfect full gainer for handstand. It's a close contest, but the Mexican champion Juan Capilla takes first place with Californians Gary Tobayan and Dick Conner second and third. Back at the stadium, it's the hundred meter dash and it's Bobby O'Moro who takes it going away in ten and a half seconds. Lieutenant Baker of the Air Force is second and of Australia third. Speed merchants, one and all. Next is the 400 meter hurdles. Ohio star Glenn Davis running in lane four. Coming into the stretch, Davis leads with the southern and marine Josh Culbrath trailing on the inside. The last hurdle spells trouble for the South African entry, but at the tape, it's one, two, three for the USA. For the first time in the games, the stars and stripes fly from all three victory poles. A clean sweep for the firm of Davis, Southern and Culbrath. Back at the pool, the women's hundred meter butterfly gets underway. Shelley Mann swimming in lane four is our high hope with Nancy Ramey and Mary Jane Sears providing the competition, which keeps Shelley on her toes. It's a beautiful stroke to watch when it's done by the best. And these are the best. The Australians have dominated the swimming so far, but here comes a surprise. Teenagers Shelley Mann, Nancy Ramey and Mary Jane Sears finish one, two, three. Shelley's time is one minute, 11 seconds, as America makes its only clean sweep of the swimming competition. Now back to the stadium where our pool vaulters are ready to go. Here's George Matos of the Air Force in a beautiful slow motion vault. Reverend Bob Richards is out to top 15 feet this afternoon, something several times in the past. But this just doesn't seem to be the day. The persistent preacher comes back, however, to clear the bar at 14 feet, 11 and a quarter inches, which is good for a new Olympic record. First place goes to Reverend Richards with Bob Gutowski second and Rubana.