OLYMPIC GAMES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 11

OLYMPIC GAMES

LAY FAILS IN JAVELINTHROWING UNITED STATES LEADING ON POINTS BRITISH EMPIRE BEING SECOND (Australian Press Assn.—United Service., Amsterdam, August 2. New Zealand and Australia were represented in field events at the Olympic Games to-day, but did not qualify for the finals. The javelin throwing produced further reversals of form. 8.. Lay (New Zealand) failed to reproduce the prowess with .which lie . won. the British championship on July 7, when lie threw within a few feet of. LTutilla’s record. I’entilla to-day was only sixth, after recently beating the record in practice. Winter (Australia), previous winner and record-holder of the bop, step, and jump, did not qualify. A soft track was the chief reason for Winter not striking form against redoubtable opponents.. including Huulos and Rainio, of Finland. Whiter likes tn hard ground, from which he bounces when he hops- anti steps, enabling him to make a vigorous finishing jump. He found the newly-laid track dead and offering him no assistance; otherwise he felt wonderfully fit, his knee standing the strain well. Winter first cleared 46ft. sin„ did the same again, and then 45ft. lOin. W. G. Kalaugher (New Zealand) was also out of form. He cleared 42ft. 4in„ and twice overstepped the mark. Winter’s ill-luck disappointed supporters who were anticipating that he would be the first to have_t.be Australian flag raised. It was then hoped that Whyte would at least be placed in the 1500 metres, but he was greatly feeling the effects of yesterday’s effort. Though he ran pluckily, Whyte found the Continental opponents too speedy. In a punishing finish, Whyte was beaten by 15 yards.

New Zealand shared Australia’s disappointments through Lay’s failure in the javelin throw. Lindquist, winner of this event, is a painter, who has been without work for eight months. Tlie second round of the 400 metres produced exciting races, in which the British hope, Rinkel, succeeded in joining the Canadians, Wilson, Ball, and Edwards, for to-morrow’s semi-final. The other semi-finalists include Buchner (Germany), who won the fastest heat in 48 3-ssec., and Barbutti and Phillips (United States). German flags waved over the Stadium and roads and there were applause and cheers when Fraulein Radke won the women’s 800 metres, with Miss Ilitoml (Japan) a good second, to bring the Japanese flag out alongside the German. Immediately afterwards the Rising Sun floated on the centre pole in recognition of Oda’s success in the hop, step, and jump. It was Japan’s first victory at the Olympiad. Nations’ Positions on Points. Although the United States has not yet won a track event, this nation is at present in the lead with 90 points, the British- -Empire being second with 65 points. Finland is next with 36 points, including 21 scored to-day. Other points tire: Germany 28, Sweden 27, Japan 11, France 10, Norway 9. The British Empire’s total is made up as follows: Great Britain 29 points, Ireland 6, South Africa 11, Canada 19, Australia 0, and New Zealand 0. Pearce’s Victory in Sculls. The twelve lengths victory of Pearce (Australia) in the second heat of the sculls, might just as easily have been by 25 lengths, his opponent, Flinsch (Germany) being hopelessly beaten. It was at first announced that .the time was Smin.. 55 4-ssec., which was more than two minutes lower than Pearce had been doing in practice, but half an hour later the officially-corrected time gave great relief to the Australians, as in the third heat the Canadian, Wright, had recorded 7min. 56 4-ssec. The Dutch champion, Gunther, however, made such a good light that the Canadian had less than a length to spare, thus adding to the optimism of Pearce’s chances.

The racing started at 9.20 a.m., consequently there was a mere handful of spectators, practically confined (o Sloten villagers. Next to the winningpost were a Dutch housewife and five Children who sat unconcernedly knitting. Pearce covered the first 200 metres, three seconds faster than- Wright, who, though hard pressed, took a second longer than the Australian for the fullcourse. Peaice and Wright tire clearly the most outstanding scullers, and were the only two of the six winners to beat eight minutes. The comparative slowness is accounted for in the fact that the water was even more dead than usual, as a result of two days of rain. Pearce’s second heat is oh Saturday.

A well-known English coach expresses the opinion that Pearce is the best senior seen for years. His only possible fault is that Ins body swings back slightly too fast. RESULTS IN DETAIL. The fifth day’s events, at .the .Games resulted at follow: — 1500 Metres Flat. Final. Larva (Finland) 1 La’ Doumergue (France) 2 I’urje (Finland) ..... A . 3 Time, 3min. 53 l-sscc., boating Nurmi s Olympic record. 800 Metres (Women). Final. Fraulein Radke (Germany) 1 Miss Hitomi (Japan) 2 Fraulein Gentzel (Sweden) 3 Time, 2min. 16 4-psec. The winner broke her own world’s record. Throwing the Javelin. Final. Lundquist (Sweden) 218 ft. 6Jin. ... 1 Tlie winner broke tlie Olympic record. S. Lav (New Zealand) threw the javelin a distance of 206 feet in a heat, but did not qualify for the final. 400 Metres Flat. Trials. In the fourteenth heat. Neumann (Germany) was first, and Macßealh (Canada) second. Stuart (Australia) w«ts unplaced. The winners time was ou 3-ssec. Hop, Step, and Jump. In the qualifying rounds, Oda (Japan) cleared 49ft. Ilin. Winter (Australia), holder of the record for this event, failed to qualify. Kalaugher (New Zealand) also failed to qualify. Final. Oda (Japan) • J Casey (United Slates) - Tutil’os (Finland) 3 Swimming. A. Charllon. ’the Australian swimmer, wiil compete in a heat of the 1500 metres swim at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

CYCLE TRIAL

STANDEN BEATS GRAY-

(Rec. August 3, 11.45 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 3. Teh 1000 metres cycle trial, as a guidance to the selection of Australia s representative olympiad team, resulted in Standen beating Gray by two lengths, after a sprint, which commenced A>o; metres from ■ the finish. Standen nn-. mediately, jumping ahead. He further improved his position round the turn, where Gray was slightly crowded. In the 1000 metres trial on time, an awkward situation was created, both men taking Imin. 14 3-ssec., though in Gray s case-one watch registered Imin. 15 1-oscc. This is the -best time trial Gray has- ever ’ done. Both were hampered by a number of other competitors training on the stadium * track. Duff is making the sclection this afternoon. The test was: necessary because Standen and Gray were sent over under the impression that each nation was allowed two competitors in tlie 1000 metres event, whereas only one is permitted. LOWE RETIRING ; (Australian Press Association.), ■ (Rec. August 3, 8.5 p.m.) London. August 3. It. is understood that the Englishman, Lowe, is retiring from athletics, and will practise at the Bar. ■’ LOWE’S SPLENDID PERFORMANCE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby,'August 1. Great satisfaction is expressed in sporting circles here at tlie splendid performance of the British athlete, D. G. Lowe, in the Olympic Games, at Amsterdam, yesterdav, in winning the final of the oOl! ’metres flat race in the Olympic record time of Imin. 51 4-ssec. Another Olympic Games final fell to the Britisa Empire representative, to-day, Atkinson (South African) winning the 110 metres hurdles. The race produced a titanic struggle, and Atkinson succeeded in winning by just a foot from Anderson (American ). NEW ZEALAND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SEPARATE AFFILIATION APPROVED (Rec. August 3, 8.5 p.m.) London, August 3. Tlie New Zealand Athletic Association’s separate affiliation to the International Amateur Athletic Association has been approved. LAY TO REPRESENT EMPIRE AGAINST AMERICA AT STAMFORD BRIDGE Amsterdam, August 2. S. Lay, New Zealand javelin thrower, will represent the British Empire against America at Stamford Bridge, on August 11. - 1