"JUST RIGHT"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1931, Page 11

"JUST RIGHT"

CARLTON ARRIVES

AUSTRALIA'S GREAT SPRINTER

A record of not having lost a championship during the seven years of liis active participation in athletics stands to the crodit of James Carlton, the Australian amateur sprint cbainpion and record-holder, who arrived in Wellington from Sydney to-day on a mission which he regards as one of the most important *of Ins career. Since tho news was received in Australia that George Simpson, the American re-cord-breaking sprinter, would be in New Zealand this season, it has been Carlton's ambition to measure strides with the American star, and that ambition, is to be realised on Saturday afternoon at Athletic Park. Carlton's visit is to be. but a flying one, as he has promised to be back in Sydney to compete in the State championships, which commence there on Saturday week. A longer stay in New Zealand would have been appreciated by .Carlson, but he feels that he should keep faith with the New South Wales authorities, who had depended'■upon him as a competitor at the championship meeting. It will be necessary for him to leave Wellington on Monday night for Auckland to join the steamer leaving there on Tuesday for Sydney, and even that will only enable him to reach Sydney on the first day of the • championships. His engagement that day, howover, will be only a qualifying race. The brief stay in Wellington will suffice, it is anticipated, to give the public a race every bit as thrilling as that in which another famous Australian, "Slip" Carr, and a noted American, M. Kirksey, measured strides on the same ground some years ago. "I was warned before leaving Australia not to put out my hand to a New Zealander and say 'Shake,'" tho Australian sprinter humorously remarked, although paying no heed to the warning. He indicated that he was delighted to return to New Zealand, and that he was fit and well for the big contest next Saturday. It was in December, 1927, that Carlton previously competed in Wellington, and on that occasion he won the 100 yards and 220 yards Australasian championships, which, were decided for the last time. Since then he has shown improved form, and he mentioned to-day that during the past two years he has never run worse than evens. His times at Athletic Park in 1927 were 10 l-ssee and 22 l-ssec respectively, made under unfavourable conditions, and he is confident of improving upon them next Saturday. Two months ago on the Sydney Cricket Ground he covered 100 yards in 9 3-ssec —a record. Two watches timed him as doing the distance in 9 2-ssec, three in 9 3-ssec, and one 9 4-Gsec. He also registered 9 3-ssec in a heat of a 100 yards race in Melbourne last season. He is also very fast over the furlong, and for this distance also holds the Australian record —21 3-ssec. The Australian national titles are held by Carlton for both the 100 yards and the 220 yards sprints, and ou present form it seems that he is likely to retain them unless an exceptionally fast sprinter is brought to light. He won his first championship when fifteen years of age, and was looked upon then as Australia's "wonder boy." A trip to the Olympic Games enabled Carlton to meet some of, the world's best sprinters, among them Frank Wykoir", of America, but on that occasion ho was not in a condition to give of his best.. His weight then .was 13st 71b; to-day he turns the scale at 12st. It is with great hopes of giving of his very best that he looks to his meeting with Simpson on Saturday. He does not anticipate being in any way adversely affected by the trip from Syd-, ney; in fact, ho considers that with the little training he will get this week, commencing this evening at Athletic Park, he will be "just right." In Sydney, Carlton competes for the Bandwick-Kensington Club in the interclub competitions. This club has seven Australian title-holders, and, needless to say, is a hot proposition for the other clubs. Among the other members are George Golding, who was in New Zealand last season, and Nick Winter, the noted hop, step, and jump champion, who, Carlton states, is maintaining his form, and recently cleared round about 49ft. Randwick-Kensing-ton have won the inter-club .championship this season. Amateur athletics are keeping up a good standard in New South Wales, said Carlton, and are very strong in Victoria. Rugby football, a sport in which Carlton gained representative honours last season, is also making good headway in New South Wales, and the standard of play is regarded as being very high. . A function in Carlton's honour is to bo given by the Marist Bros.' Club ou Thursday evening, and there will be one also for the Australian, as well as the American visitors, by tho amateur athletic authorities on Friday afternoon. Cailton is to be the guest of the Wellington Boxing Association at the Winter Show Stadium Hhis evening. SELECT FIELDS. Exceptionally good "fields" will contest the main events at the big sports meeting to be held at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon. The competitors in the 100 yards sprint will be: G. Simpson (U.S.A.), J. Carlton (Australia), Jenkins, Fleming, and Stephenson. For the 220 yards event the same competitors, with tho exception of Stephenson, will be on the mark. In tho one milo handicap those _on scratch with the American, B. Kiser, will be Bayne, Wills, and Prosser. H. Bothert (U.S.A.) will compete in various field events, and Kiser is entered for the half-mile, as well as the onemile run.