A FINE ATHLETE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 3, 9 February 1914, Page 11

A FINE ATHLETE.

WATSON'S GEEAT "HALIV' The half-mile contest in the .Australasian championships ..at Melbourne seems to have been a remarkably fine race. The Sydney "Daily Telegraph's" special reporter says that for brilliancy this event, beat anything seen on the track for years. Four of the men en-' tered we.re credited with lmin. 57sec:, and Thorpe, of New South Wal ( es, was only a fraction behind that time. The fancy for the /events was. Busseli Watson, the brilliant young Victorian athlete, although many were inclined to favour. the * American, James Power. WUen the word to go was given, Walsh, of Victoria, dashed to the front, followed by Watson.. Walsh ran the 'first quarter in 55sec.y and* .then retired. Watson ran-, a winning race all the way. ► When Walsh retired Watson was left at the head of affairs; but it did not trouble him, for he forced the pace all the way.over the last lap and entered

the straight going great'guns. Thorpe, of New South Wales, was most unfortunate. He was cut off at 30.0 yds, and\ at_the H end, of-.the first lap was last—a very bad position in such a field. He is. a,fine runner, however, and the way he ea«e round..the field in-the last'lap was an eye-opener. .He passed all but Watson,' and had he been better placed -at the bell Watson; would have had to r beat the • Australasian record by quite a tot.. was lost for pace at 600 yds, and Dormer was quite ' unable to see it cut. Turnbull, of Victoria,- fin- " ished strongly and ran into thirds place. The time was lmin 5« 2-ssec,- and, con- , sidering that in each lap the men ran into a, strong wind, the quality of the performance was first-class.