ATHLETICS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1926, Page 18

ATHLETICS

Br 'Sprinter.l

STRIKING FORM

AMERICANS IN TRAINING

AUCKLANDEES KEENLY INTEE-

ESTED,

After a fairly solid preparation at Auckland, the American athletes, Jackson Scholz and Lloyd Hahn, were to engage in races at Hamilton this afternoon, and news of their performances will be awaited with much interest. Then there will be eagerness to make comparisons, and the chances of local runners against the visitors will be more keenly discussed. But, whatever the merit of the Americans' performances at Hamilton to-day, due consideration must be given to the fact that neither of the visitors is ready to give of his best. By the time the pair reach this part of the Dominion they should be somewhere near the top of their form, and it in then that a good idea of the exceptional pace of these champions should be obtained. Meanwhile, athletes in the Wellington province will be afforded with plenty of opportunities to strike their best form for the meetings which promise to be notable by reason of the appearance of the Americans. Following the Wellington Centre's Dewar Shield meeting today, there will be sports at Porirua and at Masterton on Friday next (Anniversary Day), local evening meetings each week, and the Wellington provincial championships: on 30th January. Track Work and Coaching. Advice received from Auckland this week states that both Scholz and Hahn are quite satisfied with their present condition, though they anticipate being in much better form a few weeks hence. Both have been training solidly, Hahn in particular doing much serious work on the track. While the track was too hard for Scholz to do anything much in the way of fast work,'the champion sprinter devoted a great deal of time to coaching. He has been handing out plenty of points to those eager to receive instruction— and there have been, quite a number. This instruction by Scholz has not been for the benefit of sprinters only, but it has included useful hints to athletes who are interested in. other departments of the'sport. Before'proceeding to Hamilton, Scholz did some speed work, and in this he was even more impressive than previously. Hahn is looking forward to his contests with Rose, and in these the Australasian champion wjjl find that sprinting is an essential to success. Hahn has already done some fast work, and it has been observed that he is a great judge of pace. If he sets out to do a distance in a certain time he usually does it without being more than a few seconds out., In one "training gallop" over a mile and a half on the Auckland Domain he decided that eight minutes should be occupied on the journey. He finished the rnn in 7min 57sec. Instruction in the art of starting is proving of value to those runners who have taken advantage of Scholz's willingness to give advice. Scholz regards the action of an athlete in "beating the pistol" as a crime. While training at the Auckland Domain he has noticed local runners uneasy on the mark and ever-ready to beat the starter. The American considers that some starters are liable to let the field go altogether too soon after the set position has been reached. He believes that sprinters should be kept waiting until the starter is ready to fire, and that any runner breaKing should be constantly penalised. In high-class company, he said, several inches gained at the start means an assured victory. Ho had never known himself to beat a starter. Sydney Athletes. In Sydney recently W. J. O'Eeilly (Botany Club) won the hop, step, and jump with a leap of , t 47ft lin. C. Ebert, 46ft 6in, was second. C. Ebert, who is only 18 years of age, broke the New South Wales high jump record by clearing 6ft Ofin. T. W. I,l'Namara won the 440 yards in 51 3-ssec. The long jump was won by N. Cunningham, who cleared 22ft BJin, with C. ,Ebert 22ft sin second, and D. A. Wright 21ft llin third. The New Zealand record, for the hop, step, and jump is held by G. A. Pluinmei', Auckland, with 46ft 4iin. At the St. Day sports in Auckland in 1921 Plummer cleared 46ft lljin, but application was not made to the association for the granting of a record, although the measurement with a steel tape was atrictly accurate. An enthusiast suggests,to the N.Z. Amateur Athletic Association that C. Ebert be invited to New Zealand this season. With the performances quoted above, he considers Ebert would be a "star" attraction for the field events at the meetings for the American athletes, Seholtz and Hahn. Notes. A Northern journal states that probably L. C. Williams, M. P. Wilson, and J. W. Shirley will .represent Aucklnnd at the New Zealand championship meeting at Dunedjn. ,T. W. Shirley and W. G. Kalaiißher were to compete at the sports rnoeting at Hamilton to-day. Shirley has had some useful lessons in hurdling from Scholz, and already the lortjl champion has shown improvement. \tle lias a .s|ilcii.'.liil uclion over the lirsl, six liui-aiivs, hut In; lire-s l.;«lly. If this defect could, lio rcineiluid ho would bo a diingfioiis opponent in the i\i'iv Zealand hurdles championship (says a Northern writer). Since W. G. Kalaughor has resided in Wellington he has been prominent in jumping events, and his sft Sin in the high jump ;mrl 44ft. lOin in the hop, step, and jump in Wellington on Boxing Day have made him :i serious opponent for Shirley. If they meet in the New Zealand championships hi Dunedin next month tliey will provids interesting coiMivstitiott,