Otago On Warpath.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 4 (Supplement)

Otago On Warpath.

A RECORD DISALLOWED!

"N.Z. Council Resorts to a Flimsy Technicality."

THE decision of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Council not to allow G. L. Austin's time of lh 25m 47 2-5s to stand as a national record for 15 miles will come as a big disappointment, not only to the Caversham man himself, but to all athletes in Dunedin, states the "Otago Daily Times." After months of fighting an inexplicable prejudice of the governing body to set a standard for 15 miles, even though a world's record exists for the distance, the Otago Centre thought it had taken every precaution to ensure i that Austin's attempt to establish a record complied strictly with the rules. Although not having the spur of competition or anyone to set a pace for him at any stage of the journey, Austin ran a notable race to establish time well ruider the standard set by the counciL The record was applied for in the correct way, and now the New Zealand Council has ruled that a record could be established only in competition, and, as Austin (New Zealand marathon champion) was running alone, has disallowed the application for a record by a small margin of votes. While the council might be legally correct in its decision, it is a most unfortunate one, since after all Austin was competing against the clock after a standard had been set. It would, no doubt, have been in order if another runner had started in the race, even if he had retired after running 100 yards or fco. Then, again, field athletes are allowed the opportunity to make an attempt on a record after the event itself has been completed. From every point of view it seems that Austin's record has been disallowed on a flimsy technicality, and one of the best sportsmen in athletics in New Zealand has been deprived of another record. The one man who is not worrying unduly about the unfairness of the decision is Anstin himself. He is determined to make another attempt to establish a record, and it is to be hoped that the New Zealand Council will not be able to find another flaw in any application made by the Otaso Centre. *