ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

[Bt "Mbkcuby."] THE TERRIBLE MARATHONS. August 10.—New Zealand Cross-Conntry Championship, Wellington. "Many a Life Has Been Shortened." Writing on tho death of Lazaro in the Olympic Marathon, "Prodigal," in the "Keferoe," says:—"Of course, the great heat at Stockholm on the ltth iiist.—loo degrees in the shade, it is said to have been—was tho chief contributing factor to the death of Lnssaro and tho collapse of other competitors. Given cool weather, a 20-miles run to a well-grown and thoroughly matured and healthy man would bring about no ill results, always provided he had thoroughly nttuned himself for the fray. But theso contests must bo hedged about with adequate safeguards." Then ho goes on to say:—

I well remember the first of the kind in this part of the world, having had a good deal to do with its management—at the request of the promoting body, tho Y.M.C.A., I framed the rules to govern the contest, and tilisO acted as referee. The first and only trouble aroso over the age limit—l bad iv clause to the effect that no one under tho age of 21 years was eligible to enter. Exception was taken to this by thoughtless and inexperienced lads desirous of competing, and eventually, and with extreme reluctance, I agreed to the age limit being reduced to 19 years. Even then there were those who would have liked to have, seen tho age limit further reduced, but the' Y.M.C.A. authorities would not hear of it. It was simply a case of having to save the thoughtless juvenile athlete against himself. Since the revival of the "Marathon" in Europe, the British Isles, and in America, I have no doubt many a life has been shortened and not a few sacrificed by youths, neither properly matured nor properly .trained, participating in them. Thus it would appear to me that the time has arrived when the A.A. Union of Australasia should draft rules and regulations sufficiently drastic to safeguard the young athlete of the Commonwealth and the Dominion of New Zealand. The chief clauses should provide: (a) Por an age limit of not less than 21 years (23 years would be better);' (b) for a thorough and searching medical examination as to, physical fitness and proper condition; and (c) for a limitation of "Marathons" to the winter months. With theso safeguards, there would be no more danger in the "Marathon" than any other athletic exercise or game—less so than in many. ■■■■■.

But Why Retain the Marathon at AH? Now a good deal of this bears out "Mercury's" argument of a fortnight ago, but "Prodigal" is evidently desirous of maintaining the event, while "Mercury" is just as keen- in his belief that it should be abolished. "Pfodigal," as. will be seen from the foregoing, admits that only men physically fit -should be allowed to compete, but the stringent conditions he would impose seem to suggest that an event which needs such conditions is hardly worth while retaining. If one admits the desirability of retaining it, "Prodigal's" conditions eeem about the best that could be devised, and in advocating a minimum age o\ 23 and n. liriiitation of Marathons to winter months, In has suggested something better than anything yet put forward by any other writer. Sprinters are in their prime at 23, but most distance men are not at their best till a few years later, and certninly fev under that age are physically developed enough to race more than fifteen mile<without risk of permanent injury to both health and' physical strength. The Sydnoy writer never spoke truer words than when he said,- "I have no doubt many a life has been shortened, and not a few sacrificed, by youths, neither properly matured nor properly traftied. participating in them (Marathon races)." This, and the fact that few governing bodies would conscientiously enforce some such conditions as he advocates, argue strongly in favour of abolishing altogether this menace to athletic sport. Hill and the Subtle Foe—Climate. Latest advices from. England bring the news that G. N. Hill could get no nearer than fourth in the Scotch mile championship, in 4min. 31 Msec. Ho is reported to have died away in the straight. This news makes it certain that Hill has lost all form, but what has been the chief factor towards bringing this about it is hard to say, unless it be that the climatic change has affected him. Come to think of it, very few Australians and New Zealanders have shown their true form at Home until they have been there a year or two. Nigel Barker could not get within yards of his real form. J. H. Hompton could not, Woodger could not, and so with most others: Of the few exceptions, G. W. Smith 16 the most notable, he having succeeded in his mission—the 120 yards hurdles championship of England in 1902, and last year Opie, by winning the 100 yards invitation race at Crewe, must have run as well as he ever did; but ho later on broke down. Were Hill to remain in England till next year a different tale might bo told, but there seems littlo prospect of his being able to do that.

Murray's Debut at Home. Hill's first appearance did not attract much attention in the papers, but in view of. his alleged records in .Australia, it was but natural that Murray's debut should have, aroused considerable interest. At Heme Hill, on.June 8, ho competed in a two-milo handicap. Placed on scratch with the English crack, H. V. L. Ross, he started off at a great bat, but petered out at the end of tho first quarter, during the progress 'of which he was cautioned. At tho end of the first mile he was called off, when 150 yards behind Rosa. The "Athletic .News' has the fellowing to say on tho event:—Tho walk was not an altogether satisfactory affair. W. Murray, of tho Melbourne Harriers, one of the Australasian Olympic team, shared the post of honour with H. V. L. Ross, our own champion. Both have shown, tho ability to beat lijinin. standard time, yet the handicap was supposed to bo made to that scale. Indeed, Murray is reputed to have shown something like 13min. 39sec. for two miles. Now he has failed to reproduce anything like that form, and his disqualification before tho completion of a mile must have come as a blow to him on making his debut among us. Murray began at a sensational pace. Ross followed on his heels with an apparent laborious effort. Both might well have been ruled out before the completion of tho first lap; it would not have surprised many if they had been. At the end o! the first quarter Ross got b*- Murray, who had grown diorter in his strides, and the Middlesex man was soon well ahead of the visitor, cutting down his field at a remarkable rate. For the first mile Ross occupied Oram. 4Ssec. and just as he was completing it Murray was ruled out when 150 yards behind Ross. Our own champion was allowed to get another half mile, and then was pulled out. Murray was naturally chagrined at having come under tho ban of the judges so soon, He may have been off colour on Saturday, having arrived in England onlv some ten days previously. But he hail a littlo oxperienco during that time on tho Stamford Bridge track. Murray told me that in Australia thoy would not pass Ross's walking. And I should not thmk they would anywhore else, judged by his mode of progression last week end. My first impression of tho colonial is not at all favourable to his doing fast times hero. He will lie found in tho A.A.A. championship. Meanwhile ho must find some of his Australian form. He will need to do so, I am sure, if honours aro to come his way.