HOW THE LADS RAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

HOW THE LADS RAN.

(By MEL ANION.)

\ College j J Distance j ! Runners. |

USIASM ran high at the ye Auckland on P'i j° Athletic Asso- « Ed=„ Park last *ne many spectators L ,L I ? l * etin « including many led k i. rac * 8 ' an d the .■ji arrac king of the many i a 8 , P re »ent was coupled ru ncere Pkudits of the *>. *r ac k was in good i«j ""jal, but an overcast a cold wind did not tend tom« itions Peasant for IJPeUtors. The standard in 'e ba Con ?P et 'tion was on the Poor, b u t in the interme _ kr tk ,Uni ° r ' P art i c ularly the s Lv e resu ' ts showed form highest merit.

athlete of the day fial Tpr>w, olll t' lc Seddon tlinj, inn C°Hege, who created ie 3 rec ord of 10 2-5s »faeeiT2 late c,ass '» 16 a n | 4in cquallcfl bot h the 220 he Wnn Jf rcls records, events tailt f„. V*" ' ie ' n g extended. Well la#f a B P r ' n^er i this boy proitnpr ov -r_ -® ar > »nd lie has shown first-ra*. ' *"8 physical fitness ' Sickwm v-j th ? - day of com P e ' f°H° w in I out j n 08e fine sprinters Sift ■jf e . P by the Technical V. R. Walker, ■n«y v ' •R- Corterson and W. the ran^B D. H. Carew » was expected but k ®°mewhat monopolise •the j 2n e Was successful in two B. c T? a J ds ' in which he j sWc'b md the

hurdles. The broad jump, in which event his early season form might have found him creating a new record, found Carew right off bis jumping with a somewhat poor third. The 100 yards found the "form horse" winning in G. D. Roberts, also of Mount Albert Grammar. Roberts was third in the provincial junior title over 220 yards, and though beaten by Carew at his school title meeting, he maintained his consistent running of the year to win in the quite good time of 10 3-ss. Roberts was also second in the furlong, and as he develops physically lie should become one of our best.

The surprise of the meeting was the defeat of K. C. Johnson (Sacred Heart) in the 880 yards, and to some extent in the 440 yards. Johnson holds the Auckland provincial title lor the half-mile and was third in the quarter at the same meeting. Once the ultimate winner, K. W. Greville (Auckland Grammar) went to the front Johnson had no chance, and it took him all he knew to head off E. M. Davison (Technical College). Johnson usually relies on his •rood finish to win his races, but lie took the lead early in the second lap and failed to stay on well. Greville runs with a very easy action and shows nice judgment, and should develop into a really good middle-distance runner. He competed with the Old. Grammarians Club this season and ran fourth behind Johnson, in the heats of the quartermile provincial junior championship. Owing to illness he was not a competitor in the half the next day at the Eden Park meeting, so this was only the second occasion he had run against Johnson.

The winner of the 440 yards, E. P. Towle, of King's College, was very impressive with his powerful striding, and with his build is an ideal man for the distance, gjk though well removed

from the excellent record of A. -T. Sayers (51 2-ss), was good and could liave been improved, upon. The milers were not up to usual standard, though the winner, A. L. Cantwell (Auckland Grammar) and the second boy, 12. R. Davison (Technical) show promise. The latter might well have won the race had he shown better judgment in Oelaying his final sprint. If some of these boys were to compete now in open junior competition prior to this meeting they would gain invaluable experience for judging tlieir running.

In the intermediate class Hickson had an excellent second "string" from liis college in K. Jackson, a lad who would have won both sprint titles in ordinary years. As it was, he had two H<-conds to his credit. Another King's College boy caught the eye in this class, T). K. Ower, who ran sccond to Hickson in the quarter and won the half mile. He would probably have creatcd a record in this latter event had he been extended. As it was, the second and third placings in this race, K. Peace (M.A.G.S.) and K. W. Moor (A.G.S.) had a thrilling race for the second placing in what was probably the closest decision of the meeting.

K. J. Savory (Auckland Grammar) scored a fine "treble" in the junior class and, but for Hickson, would have been the "star" of the meeting. Very well built for a boy under 14J years of age, he runs with great dash, and his 11 2-5s for the 100 yards—a record —was really Over the hurdles —an innovation for the class at the meeting —he "fenced" with great confidence and speed, and with liis victory in the furlong completed a fine clay's sport. This boy is a champion of the future. The tw'o other place-getters in the sprints in this class, D. Brain (Technical College) and J. M. Tanner (Auckland Grammar) also have promise. The winner of the 440 yards, A. D. Bourne (Auckland Grammar) caught the eye with his very easy action, and he appears to be the type who should develop into a really good middledistance runner. _