OUR ATHLETES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 579, 6 August 1909, Page 6

OUR ATHLETES.

TEAM LEAVES FOR BRISBANE TO-DAY. ,'■' -PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES. . The Australasian Amateur Athletic Championship' meeting, to commence at Brisbane 'on Aiigust 18, is the athletic feature of tbe year.' Tho team selected, to uphold the Dominion's athletic honour is to leave for Sydney by the Moeraki at 5 o'clock thie afternoon. The following -notes on the members will be read with interest.' MILES DICKSON (Canterbury), 'three miles and Marathon: —Dickson is tbe present three-mile champion, having won hie title last March at the N.Z. Championship meeting at Dunedin, when he broke the New.Zealand standard for the distance with ease. He also won the: Ashhurton Marathon race (18 miles) in March last. This is his first year as a champion, and this will be the .first occasion on which he has represented New Zealand. Ho is considered one of the few "certainties" of the team. Dickson belongs to Canterbury. ■' ' . ■GEORGE M'KNIGHT (Dunedin), one and three miles:—Knight, ran second to Dickson in , the New Zealand meeting at Dunedin in March last, when he also broke standard time. Knight is a young performer, but so strong,is. Duiiedin's faith in him that he is being,sent by public subscription. 'S.W. "MOORE (Ashburton), three miles and / Marathon: —Moore ran second to Dickson in the Ashbiirtbn Marathon in March last, and second to Hili in the .Auckland Marathon in February, so that ho is a sound performer over big. distancos.' It is his intention to remain,.in Australia, having, made arrangements to'.go on the land,in' Queensland. ' ' • :■'■■' W.:A.: (Wellington), 100 and 220 yards:—Woodierj-in form, is likely to bo successful in Brisbane. Ho is the present 100 yards and 220 yards champion,of New Zealand. He has covered the 100 yards' ; n' even; time-three times during the past seaeo'n/and won the 100 yards championship in 10 l-ssec. on a soggy .ground, which equalled standard time.' The same ,, day (March 20) he won the , 220 yards championship, cnitting, one-fifth of a second off the standard. Owing to-the, continuous wet weather,' Woodger is likely to leave rather' .short of a gallop, but with luck in Sydney arid Brisbane he hopes to'strike form. '

. HARRy:.KERR (Tiyellington)j ; p'no ; and thfeeTmile walk,: —Kerr is not the present champion walker of the Dominion, but that is /not-his . fault, as he was unable to 'got away to Dunedin to defend his title, but he is ine present Australasian champion, having won the title at Hobiirt last year. Kerr represented;TNew Zealand ,at the "' Olympic games in' London in July, 1908,, when he was third in the 2000 -metres walk, and. in the ten-mile walk was second in his heat, qualifying for the final, but his feet were so badly blistered that ho could,not start. /His, style , was at ono time subjected to some criticism, but it was passed.by Mr. Richard Coomhes, of Sydney, one of the best judges of walking m Australasia. Kerr' is short of work owing to the softness of the ground,, but has been playing football ■ all the season and 's in good form. ■ L'. M'KAY■-■(Wellington); pole vault, putting, the shot,'and. long jump:—M'Kay is the present Australasian and New Zealand l ohampion pole vaulter,_ and holds the Australasian record, established at. Hobart last year. < He is a fair shofe-putt-er and long jumperj but;.it was as,a pple-vaulter that he .was included. , -':,. .•:.'■■ \ ', G. P. KEDDELL (Dunedin), 120. and 440 hurdles, 1 Ipng:'and high jump:—Keddell is the present 120 hurdles : and; long jump chanipibh of .New-Zealand, and holds the New Zealand record 'for. the- long jump (23ft. ■ 3m;.), established in Mareh,"-:1906. He is practically untried in the■,44Q.; , hurdles, and is a-.fair high; jumper.- , ;.-. ••■'-. ■ ■■■' . . . , % .-. . The team, which will he m or ivir. C. E.' Bridge, of Wellington, will leave for Sydney this afternoon by the Moeraki, and will leave Sydney for Brisbane to-morrow week, in company with the New South Wales representatives, ,;The:'.meeting .commences on Wednesday','August l&j' arid will conclude on Saturdayj, , August 21.: The team is due-back in-■■.Wellingtbn ifln,. September-l.':.V ', - ■ 1 The team.istb'.'bo entertained , at , luncheon to-day at theU.Hotel - Windsor by.\ the and during the afternoon "will indulge in some trial runs with local athletes on the Basin Reserve.