THROWING THE JAVELIN

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 99, 21 January 1926, Page 13

THROWING THE JAVELIN

AUSTRALASIAN RECORD LOWERED A new Australasian record, for the javelin throw was created at Hawera last night, according to a special message received by 1 'Tub Dominion. The message, whcli was dispatched by the secretary of the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club (Mr. Weirj, stated that at yesterday’s evening inesting, one of the local athletes, Stanley Lay, threw the javelin a distance of 178 ft. lljin. Application would be made in due course to the council of the N.Z.A.A.A., ho added, to have the distance passed as a now record for this event.

In the course was a properly surveyed one, and the steel tape has been used in tho measurement, I.ay will have every right to ask that, the effort be recognised as a new Australasian rtcord The New Zealand record for the javelin throw is 172 ft. lin.. which was established by E>. G'. Suthorland in 1921. The following' year Sutherland broke tho existing Australasian record by throwing the pointed shaft 174 ft. 16in., which up until last night had not been bettered. As will be sen, however, the throw with which Lay is credited is an improvement of 4ft. 3 Jin- on Sutherland's effort. Lay appears to be a new star in tho amateur athletic firmament. A search of the championship programme for the last two years docs not show him s a competitor. The holder of the world’s championship for the javelin throw is J. Myyra (Finland), who in 1919 recorded the remarkable throw of 216 ft. Iflfin.