ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 154, 17 March 1923, Page 17

ATHLETICS.

(By

“Caduceus.”),

PERFORMANCES OF AMERICANS For the purpose of handy reference (the newspaper cuttings of each meeting fill a respectable volume), I give hereunder a summary of the performances of the Americans at alll the meetings at/which they actually competed. No account is taken cf the outing at Paraparaumu on. New 1 ear’s Day, where the visitors gave exhibitions only. ■At a number of meetings there were lio opponents for Merchant in several of his .events. In all such cases the summary shows that hia efforts were exhibitions only. Throughout the tour, whether in competition or not, his hammer throws were i measured, but at some meetings his I javelin and discus exhibitions were not S measured: — k KIRKSEY. ■' Wellington, January 6 — 2nd, Invitation 100yds. Handicap, lOseo. Brd, 220yds., 22sec. Masterton, January 13— 2nd, 100yds. Handicap, lOsec. Ist, 220yds. Handicap, 22seo. 3rd, Discus, 100 ft. 3in. Wanganui, January 22 — Ist, 75yds. Handicap, 8 l-ssec. Ist, 100yds. Handicap, 10 l-sseo. Ist, 220yds. Handicap, 23sec. Gisborne, January 27 — Unplaced, 75yas. (sor.), (pulled up at start). Unplaced. 100yds. Handicap. Auckland, February 3 — Ist, 100yds. North N.Z. Championship, 10 2-osec. Ist, 100yds. Handicap, 10 J-ssec. Ist, 220yds. Handicap, 22 3-b'seo. Hamilton, February 7 — Ist, 100yds. Handicap, 10 1-nseo. Ist, 220yds. Handicap, 23 25sec. * Ist, 440yds. Handicap, 53sec. . Ist, Shot, actual nut 35ft. 4in. Palmerston North, February 10 — Ist, 100yds. Handicap, 10 l-sseo. Ist, 220yds. Handicap, 22 2-ssec. Ist, 440yds. Handicap; 52 2-sseo. New Plymouth, February 14— Ist, 100yds. Handicap, lOsec. 2nd, 220yds. Handicap (2yds.), 23 2-5 sec. 2nd, 300yds. Handicap (3yds.), 32 3-5 sec. , 2nd, Discus, actual throw 117 ft. 3in. Wellington, February 17— Ist. 100yds. Provincial Champ., lOsec. Wellington, February' 24— N.Z. Champs., Ist, 100yds., 9 4-sseo. Ist, 220yds., 21 4-ssec. Cambridge, February 28— Ist, 100 metres Auckland Champ.. 10 4-sseo. Ist, 220yds. Handicap, 21 3-ssec. Ist, 440yds. Handicap, 51sec ' 3rd, Broad Jump, actual jump 20ft. / 'Auckland, March 3 — I Ist, 100yds. Invitation Scratch, 10 l-sseo. Ist, 100yds. Handicap, lOsec. ' Ist, 220yds. Invitation Scratch, 22 ■■ • 3rd, 440yds. Handicap, won in 50 4-5 sec. . MERCHANT. i Wellington, January 6— , Ist, Hammer Throw, 155 ft. 91m. ’. 2nd, Discus, 120 ft. 7in. (Munro Ist, 125 ft. Ilin.). . 3rd, Shot, 42ft. 11m. (Munro Ist. 43ft. 3Jin.). / Ist, Javelin, 150 ft? 2in> . Ist, Broad Jump, 22ft. 9m. Masterton, January 13— Ist, Hammer, 168 ft. 6m. Ist, Discus, 125 ft. 9in. Ist, Shot, 44ft. oin. Ist, Javelin, 157 ft. 4m. Ist, Bi tad Jump. 22ft. 4m. Wanganui, January 22- — lst;.Ha comer, 154 ft. sin. • 2nd, Shot, 42ft- 3Jin. Unplaced, Javelin, 134 ft. 6m. Gisborne, January 27— Hammer (exhibition), looft. Shot (exhibition), 44ft. 9in. 3rd, Broad Jump, 23ft. 'Auckland, February 3— Hammer ls7ft. 2m. Ist, Shot. 44ft. lOJin Ist, Broad Jump, 23ft. 31m. (N.Z. record). Hamilton, Feb 7 — 2nd, Shot, 44ft. lin. Hammer (exhibitipfi), _ 157 ft. Bin. Discus (exhibition). 125 ft. 9in. Palmerston North, February 10— Ist, Hammer. 161 ft. 3in. 4 Ist, Shot, 44ft. 6in. Ist, Javelin, 166 ft. 2nd, Discus, 125 ft. Sin. (Munro 131 ft. Ilin.) New Plymouth, February 14 — Hammer (exhibition), 156 ft. 7in. Ist, Shot, 43ft. 3Jin. Ist, Discus, 128 ft. Gin. 2nd, Javelin, 157 ft. Wellington) February 17-y (Provincial Championships). Ist, Hammer, 162 ft. 7in. Ist, Shot, 45ft. 73in. Ist, Javelin, 157 ft. 3in. 2nd, Discus, 119 ft. Ilin. (Munro, 126 ft. 7Jin.). Wellington, February 19 (evening meeting)— 3rd, Shot, 42ft. Ilin. Wellington, February 24 (N.Z. Championships)—' Ist, Hammer, 169 ft. lOin. (Australian record). Ist, Shot, 45ft. 2in. Ist. Javelin, 155 ft. Jin. 2nd, Discus, 122 ft. l}in. (Munro, 127ft'. 3in.). 2nd, Broad Jump, 20ft. lOin. (Buckhurst, 21ft. Bin.). Cambridge, February 28— Hammer, (exhibition), 163 ft.. 3rd, Shot, 44ft. Bin. Ist. Discus, 129 ft. Bin. Auckland, March 3 — Hammer (exhibition). 168 ft. 2in. Shot (exhibition), 45ft. 6Jin. Discus (exhibition), 125 ft. lin. Ist, Javelin, 168 ft. KROGNESS.

Wellington, January 6 —• Beaten 2} yards by Wilson in 120yds. Hurdles Afatcn in 15sec. 2nd in Broad Jump Handicap (22ft. 3}in.). Unplaced in High Jump. Masterton, January 13 — Ist, High Jump, sft. 9in. Ist, 12iiyds. Hurdles, 15 2-sseo. Unplaced, Broad Jump. Wanganui, January 22— 2nd, 120yds. Hurdles (inches), 15 4-ssec. Ist, Broad Jump, 22ft. ljin. Gisborne, January 27 — Unplaced, High Jump. 120yds. Hurdles (exhibition, 15 see.). 3rd Broad Jump, 23ft. Auckland, February 3 — 2nd. 120yds. Hurdles, 15 3-ssec. Unplaced, Hop, Step, and Jump, 42ft. Ilin Unplaced, Broad Jump,' 21ft. 4}in. Wellington, February 24 (N.Z. Championships)— Ist, 120yds. Hurdles, 15 2-ssec. Unplaced, High Jump Cambridge, February 28—. 4th, 120yds. Hurdles, won in 14)|Sec. 2nd, Shot, actual put 34ft. Ilin. 2nd Discus, actual throw 112 ft. 6in. Auckland. March 3 — 2nd, 120yds. Hurdles (inches), 15 4-5 sec. 2nd, Broad Jump, 20ft. 4in. RELAYS

In which Americans competed Wellington, January 6—3rd, in 46sec. Masterton, January 13—1st, 46 l-sseo. "Wanganui, January 22 —Ist, 47 l-sscc. Gisborne, January 27 —Ist, 46sec. Cambridge, February 28—1st, 47 l-sseo Each relay was 440yds. (110, 110, S2O).

CARR’S PERFORMANCES Wellington, February 17 — - Ist, 120yds. Handicap, from owes 2yds., 12 1-asec.; wpn heat u> 11 4-ssec. Wellington, February 19 (Evening Meeting)— Ist in heat of 100yds. Handicap, 10 2-ssec.; did not start in final. Wellington, February 24 (N.Z. Championships)— . 2nd, 100 Yards Championship (inches), 9 4-sscc. (won heat in lOsec.); 2nd, 220yds. Championship (Ijyds.), 21 4-ssec. Cambridge, February 28 — 100yds. Handicap: Won heat in lOsec.; fourth in final, won in 9 4-ssec. Auckland, March 3 — 2nd in 100yds. Invitation Scratch (2ft.), 10 l-ssec. HOME BREW AND FIZZ It was with no undue confidence as to the response that the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club invited the Wellington public to come down to plain beer after the champagne of the American meetings. The club’s worst fears wero realised, for the public stayed away from a meeting which at any other time would have drawn a big gate. The twelve hundred or so who attended were rewarded by a fine afternoon’s sport, though proceedings dragged somewhat in the early stages of the afternoon because the officials starting off with intentions altogether too good got ahead of time. However, the call to the small boys on the bank produced over a hundred aspiring Kirkseys and Carrs, and the running of numberless heats and a final filled in the necessary twenty minutes. The racing all through was exceedingly keen, and there were some fine individual performances. TRACY With Kirksey and Carr out of the way Tracy shaped like a champion. From his first appearance in the hundred it was apparent that he was better than at any previous stage of the season. At his own distance —the furV.ng—his runn.ng was superb. In the teeth of the northerly, the full force of which beat in the faces of the runners the whole of the last 110yds., he won Ms heat with ridiculous case in 23sec. In the final he was in the lead just after entering the straight, and won full of running in 22 4-ssec.—a slashing run under the conditions. His effort in the relay put both in the shade. Harry Wilson started off fully 15 yards ahead of him. Nothing dismayed. Tracy went after him. Swinging round the bottom bend he had appreciably lessened the interval. Once in the straight he seemed to gain inches at every stride, and with fifty yards to go he appeared to have a rough chance. But though he kept on going he could noit get there, and failed by four yards. A Fancy, though, what a superb effort it was to pull up 11yds. on a runner like. Wilson! Had Tracy run quite as well as that at the New Zealand Championships he might not have beaten Kirksey, but there would have been nothing between him and, Carr at the furlong. Next year, when he has had the opportunity of putting into practice all that he has learnt from Kirksey ho should make a great bid for Australasian honours. I should l like to see him tackle the quarter before the season closes, and next season take that distance seriously. He already (at the last ’Varsity championships) has done 51 3-5 sec. OTHER PERFORMERS After Tracy the best were Wilson* Rowo, and Munro. Wilson’s 16seo. against the wind was a rattling good effort. He looked better and ran better than at the New Zealand Championsljips.^,, Charley Rowe’s 880yds. from syds. 'in 2min. 2sec, was a fine run. He showed good judgment coming through his big field at just the right time. Munro’s 45ft. 2in. with the shot was ope oi his best of the season, but what tickled the public was his win in the high jump. He cleared sft. 2in. in good style. INTERPROVINCIAL RELAY

The intention of the donors of the Challenge Baton was that it should be used to encourage interprovincial competition between clubs in the AVelImgton and Canterbury Centres. The trophy is the property of the Athletic Football Spoits Club, which not being able to hold a meeting of its own this season allowed the Wellington club to conduct the first content. It is a pity that none of the Christchurch clubs were in a position to send up a team, but next season the trophy may be taken to the southern city if such a. contest would do anything towards stimulating public interest in the sport down there. Nowhere is it better realised than here that Wellington’s predominance year after year is not altogether for the best, and if as the result of a few home and home contests between Wellington and Canterbury the southerners could win the New Zealand Championship Shield the Wellington Centre would be the first to congratulate them. For all the absence of outside competition Saturday’s race was a thriller. The Wellington club had its best team in the field —Rowe, Paris, ‘Wilkins, Wilson. ’Varsity and Athletic were sadly weakened by thB absence of their half-milers, Griffin and Melrose respectively. Paul, for ’Varsity, ran surprisingly well, sticking to Rowe gamely right through the half. Paris got away five yards ahead of Christie, who reduced the lead somewhat at tlje end of the . quarter, but there was a shocking mix up in the exchange of the baton between him and Leadbetter, wlpcli gave Wilkins the fifteen yards which Tracy had te make un on AVilson. This gallant effort already described had tho crowd on its toes. With their best team in the field ’Varsity would have won easily, and should have won in any case. In any case, their team was badly arranged. Tracy should have taken the quarter, leaving the furlongs to AVhitehcad and Leadbetter. CATCHING THEM YOUNG

My comment on this page last Saturday on tho number of young runners who contested this year’s championships has drawn forth a spirited protest from one of Wellington’s keenest supporters of amateur sport. _ Though more intimately connected with swimming, Mr. AV. G. Morpeth has for many years been interested in track and field athletics. His standing in sport generally entitles his opinions to. great respect. My space this week wan filled before his letter to the AVellmgton centre came under my notice, fno question is too important to be dismissed xn a few words, and I must reserve my reply until next week.

A surprising number of first-class shots missed the Fifty this year, notably West. Masefield, and Roots. The long ranges wore responsible, and. it is questionable whether the inclusion of the extreme ranges at Trentham is advisable in the best interests of the sport. It is an atrocipus range when conditions are difficult, as they usually are. For instance, West made only 12 in the last shoot at 900 yards. A whole ■week of good shooting thrown away in one hit.