ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 57, 1 December 1923, Page 19

ATHLETICS

(By

“Miler.”)

Local activities will commence in real earnest to-day, and some interesting events are to bo decided at Athletic Park. The 220 yards B grade championship, an event for 12-yard men and over, will no doubt draw a largo number of entries. On handicaps the best men starting aro Hill, cruy, Elliott, and Higgins. The three latter aro usually on twelve o» thirteen yards, and Hill on fourteen. Hill, the University man. however, has been running well of late, and must bo considered. Higgins has not done much training this soasda and may find the distance a little trying. Guy and Elliott have nut in an appearance at one or two meetings, but do not appear to have really struck form, due probably to the lack of training. Both, however, have a good turn of speed and are sure to make a race of it. It would not be surprising to find Hill, Elliott and Guv filling tho places. Victoria College have challenged Wellington (holders), to race for the Heenan Baton, and this should provide another spectacular event this afternoon. There was little between the teams last season., but Wellington will not have the services of C. Rewo for tho half-mile to-day, and this must adversely affect their . chances. Their tetim. nevertheless, will be a strong one. and n-ill probably include H. E. Wilson. C. H. Jenkins, (the college champion'), and D. Paris. Alorton will probably run for the holders, but ho will be up against a strong opponent in Griffin. "With the latter, and also Tracv. Leadbetter and Whitehead to chooso from, the University should be able to place an exceptionally powerful team in the field, but the 440 distance may cause them a little concern. Tracy is tho man to run this distance for the team, hut he does not seem to relish the distance, and did not start in. any Quarters last season. An exciting event, is assured. , Tho last evening meeting gave some indication of what will come before us to-day. In the 100 yards Davis and Levy made a fast dash for it, and chipped a fifth off tho first heat (10 I-ssec.). Both performers should be worth watching. Guy finished strongly in his heat, but got away badly in the final, and might have passed his men over a few more yards. McParlnnd, Peterson, and Fittes sprinted well. S. Mclntosh finished comfortably enough to return the 15 varxilß lig had on in the otw-niile walk. Tracy won his heat in the 440 yards by about half a yard from H. Ser"leant, bait he did not start in the final. Tracy ran away from the rest of tho field in tho next event, tho relay race. In this event T). Pans cut out tho first lap like a racehorse, and he should make things interesting to-day. A rather sensible suggestion was mndo at the annual meeting of the N.Z..A.A.A., to the . effect that the profits of the American tour should not be disbursed to the centres showing a profit, but should be retained ns a nucleus of a fund to send champion athletes to compote at the. x-Untriu-usiin championship at Hobaro in U oorucry.