ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 December 1923, Page 21

ATHLETICS.

The inter-college competitions took place recently, and among the competitors was Jenkins, who recently did 100 yards in 10 l-ssec (the best performance since W. S. Pike ran the distance in lOlsec 39 voars ago). Old boys of Wellington college will well remember "Billy" Pike, who. besides being a champion sprinter, was also one of the two best boxers. His style was quite his own.

There V some talk in Australia of sending C. J. Lane, the 18-year-old MelbourneT Public Schools champion to he Olympic Games next year no doxibt suggested by the fact that the South African High School boy Betts is practically a certadnty for selection. Good as the Australian boy undoubtedly is, it showß the paucity of really high-grade athletes in Australia just now, and in Betts' case it has to be remembered that the young South African is a phenomenon, the like of whidi may not be seen again in a generation Lane s times were: 100 yards in 10 o-sses 220 yard« in 22 4-5 and 440 yards in 50 1-5, the merit of the last two performances enhanced by the fact that they were" run on a slightly uphill course. Lane is evidently a very fine runner, but there is time enough yet before starting to consider him as a candidate for Olympic honours.

Pinlander Nurmi's latcßt feat in breakthe -300 metre record at Copenhagen in Bmin 27 4-ssec, coming on top of his great mile run, suggests that long distance runners will 'have to step themselves out to some purpose, at the Olympic Games next year. Nurmi is a University student. The best of the American long-distance peds. at the present time is apparently veteran Joie Ray, who won the U.S. mile championship in September for the eighth time, but he would appear to be past his best, while in South Africa they have a young man who raced through a mile in about ! 4min lOsec, Which like Nurmi's own seni sational run about the same time, gave a bad knock to the same figures.

The action of the council of the New [Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in ■rcfusin" to recognise records established 'toy H E. Wilson and G. Harvey, on the 'jrrounds that the applications and necessary papers were not received within the period set out in the rules, has created some surprise in amateur athletic circles iii Wellington. It had been understood that Wilson's performance when competing against the American C. G. kro__e_s; at Athletic Park on January 0 last would be recognised, and to _. _. Wilson it would have made a fitting termination to a notable career on the snorts field. The champion hurdler naturally is disappointed at the council s decision/and instead of retiring from tho i track, as was h„ intention, he now states that he will be a competitor again , this season, in the hope of being able to | repeal his best time for the 120 yds ijhurdles. ■ .