ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 36, 10 February 1917, Page 17

ATHLETICS.

Viller Kyronen, a tow-headed little Finn was crowned America's erose-coun-try king on Saturday, December U, says the 'World." Through a blinding rain that cut to the bone, in mud which in places was ankle deep, and at all times [treacherous, slippery footing Kyrnonen raced to a deceive, clean-cut victory and made a record for the senior national 1 cross-country championship race of the Amateur Athletic Union at Van Cortlandt Park. Uannes Kolehmainen, the living Finn, head of the 1912 Olympic Games, was second, and Overton, "Yale, inter-collegiate cross-country champion, third. Kyrnonen won by 75 "yards, while Overton was fully twice that distance behind Kolehmainen. George Holden, of the Yonkers V.M.C.A., was fourth, and Mike Devaney, of the Millrose A.A., fifth. Jimmy Henigan, the junior national champion, did not run, but instead, competed in the ten-mile road championship of the New England A.A.U., which he won in the record time for the race of 52min 4sec. Kyrnonen covered the course in 32min 4&sec, and his time will stand as a record for the event. The old mark was 32min 37sec, made by Gaston Strobino, New York A.C., in winning the junior national championship title a year ago. Strolnna raced over frozen {rround under conditions that were almost ideal. Miss Bessie Grandemange, who holds the 100 yards world's record (11 2-5 sec), and whose intention it was to make an attempt to lower these figures at the carnival at Liverpool on Anniversary Day, found the state of the new cinder track unsuitable, and therefore did not make the attempt. She, however, gave an exhibition run over 100 [yards, no time being taken. Later on. running from scratch over five flig-lits of hurdles 2ft. Gin., as against five flights of hurdles 3ft. 6in., as used by the men, ilies Grandemange was first home in front of a big field in the world's record time of 16 1-lOsec. Unfortunately, the record cannot be allowed ac the last 30 yards of the track is slightly down hill. Edgar C. Ifreden, for mttay years champion middle distance runner of the world, hae left San Francisco for Canada to enlist. He has been living for some years in California, and was a familiar figure at local eporting tneets. He leaves a wife and daughter here. Breden has already a son fighting at the front in the Canadian army. The great performances of thie king of the cinder path are hardly known to the present generation of runners. But athletic enthusiasts with a touch of silver in their hair will remember how Breden was quarter-mile champion of Great Britain twice, and held the halfmile title three times. He vanquished Kilpatrick, who until the advent of Ted lleredith, held most of the middle distance records. Most of Breden's great antagonists — Crossland, Bradley and Donovan — eventually turned professional, but Breden declined to forsake the ranks of the eimon pure and unpaid. There ie a touch of pathos in the veteran athlete hero of half a hundred striving athletic battles leaving in his •late middle age for the front.