AMERICAN ATHLETES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 264, 5 August 1939, Page 12

AMERICAN ATHLETES

Difficulties In Way Of Centennial Visits Dominion Special Service AUCKLAND, August 4. Doubt as lo whether any of the more prominent American athletes would visit New Zealand for the centennial contests was expressed by Mr. S. J. Gudsell, Auckland, former New Zealand walking champion, who returned by the Monterey after a business visit to the United States of America. From unofficial conversations he had had with athletes in the United States and Canada, lie gathered that there were serious dilliculties in Hie way of competitors visiting the Dominion for centennial meetings in January, Mr. Gudsell said. .Most of the leading athletes in the United States were at the universities, ami a New Zealand visit would involve their missing examinations. In addition Olympic trials would be held next June and a season in New Zealand just before would result in the men going stale. This did not apply so much in the case of field events competitors, some of whom might be able to make the trip. Athletes who were not in the running for the Olympic team, though of good class, might also consider a visit. All to whom he mentioned the matter were very sympathetic to the idea of visiting the Dominion to compete at the centennial, but admitted that there were problems in the way.