American Jewish athletes won top honors in the men’s track and field events, which ended this week-end at the Maccabiah Games at Ramath Gan. The Americans achieved first in 11 of 20 events, second in eight others and third in discus throwing. Also, the Americans set seven new records for Israel.
The United States athletes scored 197 points, topped only by Israel with 226 points. Israel scored points in both men’s and women’s events, while the Americans did not compete in the women’s division. After the United States came Britain with 125 points, South Africa with 55, Australia with 35, Canada with 24, Chile with six, Finland with three and the Netherlands with one.
Bob Rittenburg, a hurdler, and Henry Laskau, the walking champion, accepted the Pierre Gilders Cup for the highest point score, which was awarded to the American con tingent. The Israeli team received the President Ben Zvi Trophy for over-all point score.
In the swimming competitions which were held today, the South African teams swept three finals, followed in each race by the Israelis and the Americans, in that order. Joan Katz, 14-year-old American swimmer who is viewed as Olympic material by Amerian swimming coaches, came in third in the 400 metre women’s free style. In the volley ball games, the Israeli team beat the Brazilian and French contingents to take the lead. An American fencer, Albert Axelrod, won the singles championship after 84 encounters.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
