FINE ATHLETICS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 145, 16 March 1931, Page 10

FINE ATHLETICS

Americans Triumph SATURDAY’S MEETING Kiser Runs Great Mile Competing for the second time in Wellington, at a sports meeting at Athletic Park on Saturday, the visiting American athletes made a favourable impression on the crowd of 3000 who attended. George Simpson, of Ohio, won all three invitation sprints; Rufus Kiser, of Seattle, won the special invitation mile; and Harlow Rothert, of California, was at top in tlie javelin, discus, and shot-putting events. Kiser’s running in the mile combined with that of Randolph Rose, the 'famous New Zealand performer, to turn the event into the high light of the afternoon. Kiser strode out in front right from the pistol, establishing a long lead when two-thirds of the distance was gone, and reached the tape eventually rather more than two yards ahead of Rose. There was a plain contrast between Kiser’s style and that of the rest of‘the small, select field. Kiser has a bounding stride very different from the determined, “cover the ground” methods adopted by most New Zealand milers. He gave the crowd a glimpse of how excellently and stylishly an athlete can run. On the other hand Rose, who has been a miler of world class, and is still a masterly performer, has just as individual a style, although more straightforward. Kiser’s Fine Running. It was a wonderful experience to watch Kiser stay in the . lead furlong after furlong, bounding over the ground easily and at excellent pace. His time for the first lap was 61sec.,- and for the next lap 65sec. Coining into the straight, Kiser was still an awkward distance ahead, althoiigh Rose seemed to have' a chance. Kiser put in his last ounce, however, and breasted the tape seven feet in front. The time was 4min. 22 3-ssec. Some disappointment was caused before the event when it was announced from the field that. Gordon Bayne, of Petone, national mile champion, did not consider himself fit. and was not prepared to compete. Bayne defeated Kiser when the pair appeared on the same ground on February 21, and again at Dunedin the following week in the championship event. Rose’s.fine running more than made up for Bayne’s default. The latter would certainly have had to register a better performance than he has done this season in order to defeat the American. Simpson's Three Wins. In the three special sprints, select fields had been got together. Simpson was on the scratch mark in all of them, and swung 'up at the pistol on each occasion. He was at top pace in a few strides, and ran the same fine race in all three events, except that he was easing up slightly to win the 120 yards. There was a light northerly against the sprints, and the' times, except in the 50 yards, were not sensational. Second man in the three sprints was C. H. Jenkins, the finest New Zealand sprinter on the track to-day, and Simpson had to move at top to get home. M. G. valk, of Otago, started only in the shortest ot the sprints, leg trouble forcing him out of the remainder. C. Pierson, of Invercargill, and M. Strange, of Manawatu, nan up to form. Credit must go to F. H. Stephenson, of Wellington, provincial and national junior champion, foi bis first-class work. He started m the two shorter sprints, and was third in both, running Jenkins very close. The American - captain, Harlow Rothert, competed in his favourite field events, and again exceeded the Australian and New Zealand records m the shot putt and discus throw. Handicapping gave him a win and two seconds. The centre should have starred the field events in which Rothert competed, instead of letting all except the javelin go past almost unnoticed. Opening Parade. The meeting began with an impressive parade of all athletes competing. It was led by the band, and the women competitors came next. , Following them were the three ■ Americans m brightcoloured “sweat suits,” with Rothert m the centre carrying the American "3=5 Rose, bearing the New Zealand flag, led the remainder. The athletes made a fine si"ht as they marched round the field, and the Kiwi club particularly made an excellent showing. Apart from the special events, there was a well-balanced programme of open handicaps, junior, women’s and cycling events, in which competition on the whole was keen. Details are as follow : — SPECIAL EVENTS. 50 Yards Invitation Short Limit Handicap. G. Simpson, U.S.A, (scr.) ••■••••■. J C H. Jenkins, Wellington (4yd.) .... - F. H. Stephenson, University (lyd.) •• d Time 5 8-ssec. Also started: C. Pierson, Invercargill (4yd.): JI. G. Valk, Otago (lyd.), M. Strange, Manawatu (lyd.). Simpson got a wonderful down the track to win by half a yard from Tonkins Stephenson was very close 100 Yards Invitation Short Limit Handicap. G. Simpson. U.S.A, (scr.) o C. H. Jenkins, Wellington 3 F H. Stephenson, University (3jas.) a T, S.C. STS'', 111 reached the tape a yard ahead of : the latter beating Stephenson by the nar lnritfuon Short Limit Handicap C.’ ‘(’Syds.) .... | C. Pierson, Invercargill (3yds.) o T Also Started: M. Strange. Jfanawatu (44 yds.): J. T. Fleming, Wellington (51yds-)-y Simpson won by a good yard, easins up. One Mlle Invitation Scratch Race. R Kiser, U.S.A - • „ R A. Rose, Wanganui-Taranaki - r[ H. McDonald, Manawatu ° Time 4min. 22 3-ssec. Alsm started: C. Gibbons, Wellington, C. McCarthy, Petone. In his usual style, Kiser led away at the start, followed by McCarthy, witl i Rose running last. Kiser and McCarthy stay ea out in front, and the American ’f as . s ™?„ ing well to open up gradually a lead of 1yards. Rose meanwhile '' V “ S , SOI I “S„ U half wav was in second place. Kiser, however had a bhr lead and was running impressively. His lap times for the quarter S ffird-Tap Rose seemed »is stride and? put mt were running up toward istance n r d a^r C th^ben OS th o S crowd le°t itself o-o The American's lead was becoming &Aa^?h^oXS^ a fgi Mnd, "and Bt Simps n ou * final burst which took him to the tape “i rards abend of Rose. The American and Rose were both well applauded. Kisers run had been particularly fine, and Rose, bv doing the mile in 4min. 23sec. showed w’hat a masterly runner he still is. HANDICAP EVENTS. 100 Yards Handicap.—First heat: D. Barker (7}yds.), U Y', E ?' a V (I °ri'tmo ’ io t B Stephenson (ojyds.), 3. lime, iv hsw. Second heat: A. Welply (6yds.) 1; S. Ferguson (74yds.). 2; T. Rabbitt (—), 3. Time 10 l-ssec. Third heat: R. T. Street (74vds ) 1: K- O’Connell (7Jyds.), 2; R. P. McLeod (syds.), 3. Time. 10 2-ssec. Final: Ewart 1: O’Connell, 2; Barker and Street, dead-heat, 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. An extremelv close finish. *>o Yards Handicap—First heat: D. McNicol (144yds.), 1: T. Pickering (9yds.), 2; W. Ewart (19Jyds.), 3. Time, 22sec. Second heat: JI. Furlong (layds.). 1; C. JI. Brown (20vds.), 2; It. P. JlcLeod (84yds.), 3 Time 22 l-ssec. Third heat: D. Phillips (17vds.), 1: R. Street (15yds.). 2; E. Summerville (20yds.). 3. Time. 21 4-ssce. Final: Phillips. 1; MeNicol. 2; Furlong, 3. Time, 21 4-ssec. Won by a yard and a half. ■l4O Yards Handicap, first division.—D. K. Thom (30yds.), 1; J. T. Stevenson

(27yds.), 2; L. Veitch (15yds.), 3. Time, 49 l-osec. 440 Yards Handicap, second division. — R. P. JlcLeod (22yds.), 1; N. Killeen (17yds.), 2; A. C. Bird (15yds.), 3. Time. Handicap.—E. Watson (23yds.), 1; D. K. Thom (55yds.), 2; B. K. Crow (55yds.), 3. Time, Imin. 55 l-ssec. W. Ogg was on the scratch mark in this event, with Watson nearest him. The Olympic man was running last at the bell, but had made up a certain amount of leeway, and ran into a better place on the back lane. Watson, however, was going up in good form, and overtook the leading man with two-thirds of the lap gone. He increased his lead coming into the straight, and although Thom put in a bid for honours he was beaten by li yards. Crow passed Ogg when the latter slackened in the straight. „ ~ One Mile Handicap.—L. W. Rothwell (HOvds.), 1; J- JlcConchie (140yds.). 2;J. C. K. Fabian (70yds.), 3; R. A. Rose (scr ) 4. Time, 4min. 19 3-ssec. Rose was applauded when it was announced that he would start from the scratch mark. In the early stages he caught the nearest man to hiffi, C. .McCarthy (30yds.). The placed men had taken charge of the event, however, and Rothwell scored an excellent win after a fine run. JlcConchie was 15 yards away, with Fabian another ten yards back. Rose ran into fourth place. 120 Yards Hurdles Handicap.—N. Hislop, 1: A. L. Hutchison, 2; W. H. Fisher, 3. Time, 17 3-3 sec. Won by half a yard. All three were on the scratch mark, and all were disqualified for knocking down hurdles. . x One Mile Walk Handicap.—A. Hill (ser.), 1: L. Bade (175yds.), 2. Time, 7min. 12sec. Won easily. The only competitors. FIELD EVENTS. Throwing the Javelin. —H. Rothert, U.S.A, (scr.). 172 ft. 6in., 1: F. Perry (40ft.), 172 ft. 2in., 2; J. D. Mackay (40ft.), HlMt. 2in., 3. . Putting the Shot. —W. H. Roberts (20ft.), 50ft., 1; H. Rothert, U.S.A, (scr.), 49ft. 24in., 2; P. Jlunro (6jft.), 48ft. Sin., o. In an extra throw, Rothert reached 50ft. 6jin. Throwing the Discus. —F. Jones (30ft.), 145 ft. Sin., 1; H. Rothert (scr.), 138 ft. 64in., 2; P. Jlunro (10ft.), 136 ft. lOiin., 3. 'High Jump.—G. Flighty (sJin.), oft. lOiin., 1; F. Perry (51m). sft. lOln., 2; J. N. Roberts (6in.), sft. 7in., 3. Broad Jump.—A. J. Barlow (2ft. 9in.). 21ft. lOiin.. 1: N. C. Hislop (2ft.), 21ft. Sin., 2; F. Perry (2ft.), 21ft. 4in., 3. JUNIOR EVENTS. H Marment (44yds.) and S. Farrington (—), came first and second respectively in their heat of the final of the 100yds. junior event. E. Mair (2Jyds.), who came second to R. Jlountjoy (64yds.) in the other heat, was third in the final. Time 'for the latter was 10 3-ssec. Marment scored another clear-cut win in the 300yds. junior off the 13yds. mark in 33 l-ssec. W. Riley (22yds.) and G. Ward (15yds.) were second and third. WOMEN’S EVENTS. Miss Newman, off 64yds., won her heat and the final in the 100yds. women's handicap, and off 74yd.s. won the 120yds. event. Miss W. O'Sullivan (14yds.) was second in the 100yds., and Miss Kench (scr.) and Miss Powell (94yds.) dead heat for third. Miss Kench (scr.) and Miss Martin (10 yds.) were second and third respectively in the 120yds. Wellington A (scr.) won the womens handicap relay by 4 yard in 52 3-ssec., for four laps of 110yds. each. Hutt (scr.). who led up to the last exchange, were second, and .Miramar (28yds.) third. CYCLE EVENTS. Half-mile A Grade Cycle.—First heat: L. Labone (25vds.), 1; F. Christensen (40yds.), : G. Hall (—), 3. Time, Imin. 8 l-osec. Second heat: P. N. Robinson (35vds.). 1; C. Ericsson (25yds.), 2; G. Clnrk (40yds.). 3. Time, Imin. 7 2-ssee. Final: Labone, 1: Ericsson, 2; Robinson, 3. Time, Imin. 10 4-osec. Won by a length, a similar distance between second ana third. Three Miles Open Cycle Handicap.—M. Gane (scr.), 1; P. N. Robinson (70yds.). ~: F. Christensen (120yds.), 3. Time, 7mm. 39soc. G. Clark (120yds.) led at half-way, followed closely by Gane, C. Ericsson (60yds.), and a bunch of. five. Ericsson came down in the eighth lap, and from there until the last lap riders withdrew, leaving four iu the race at the bell. Gane took the lead, and although Robinson made a splendid effort in the straight the Petone rider got home by less than half a wheel. t „ One Jfile B Grade Cycle.—First heat: R. Lvster (scr.). I: F. Wheaton (110yds.). 2; Hall (scr.), 3. Time,- 2min. 13 3-ssec. Second heat: A. Hardy (120yds.), 1: L. W. Sowerby (80yds.), 2; A. Jlexted (myds.). 3. Time, 2min. 27 2-ssec. Final: Mcxted, 1. Sowerbv. 2: Hardy. 3. Time, Jinin. 27 3-5 sec. Won by half' a wheel.