ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1925, Page 21

ATHLETICS.

As far as one can judge from the results, Otago should have a good team for the New Zealand University championships. Still, stiff opposition may be expected from Victoria College with Leadbetter and Priestley as the stars of the team, while Mclntosh is a very sound walker. Canterbury College will probably be dangerous with C. E. Low. who is a great all-rounder. * At Wellington on Saturday week R. A. Rose ran the mile in 4.24, which is the best time recorded in the Dominion for a long time. Rose will be capable of good performances for a few years yet, so we look for some more records from the Masterton champion. In Rose/ Porritt, Campbell and Kyle New Zealand has athletes who will hold their own with the world's best. By recent performances 0. B. Allan, the young 'Varsity runner, has blossomed forth as a likely champion for next season, writes "Sprinter" in the "Wellington Post." At any rate he looks like being a very serious rival to Kyle and Campbell, the New Zealand champions for the quarter and half respectively. Knowing how good these two are, this view of Allan may be regarded as an exaggeration, but it i-s anything but that. As a matter of fact, Allan last week gave Campbell a beating, and a very decisive one at that. Thi9 happened in a relay in which Allan and Campbell were representatives of separate teams for the half-mile distance. Allan stuck to Campbell all the way, and beat him with a burst at the finish. Hβ has a fine, 'long stride, is a powerful runner, and can disclose a magnificent sprint to finish off his races. In selecting the New Zealand team to compete against the Australians, did the selectors (Messrs. A. I. Davies and A. C. Kitto) consider the claims of all competitors in New Zealand, or only Wellington? asks the "Wanganui Chronicle." Surely Keith Gray (N.Z. three-mile champion) was entitled to be the first man considered, as he was the only rider to finish in front of Burness at the New Zealand championships, and the time for that event was easily the best put up at the meeting. Why, they actually rode each mile, in the three-mile championship, six seconds faster than the time put up in the onemile event, and neither Flett, Curtis nor Oakley were in the picture in either race. The Wellington selectors evidently class Flett and Oakley as New Zealand's champion grass track riders. Perhaps! But have they competed against Gray, Morris, Grant, Douglas and Herbert on the graas T - -.■ , _^