"TEAM IN HIMSELF"

Evening Post, Volume c, Issue 54, 5 March 1934, Page 10

"TEAM IN HIMSELF"

ATHLETE PHENOMENON

METCALFE'S DOINGS

By their performances, those of Metcalf c and Hampson in particular, . the Australian athletes now on tour in New Zealand are proving themselves to be one of the finest athletic combinations that has ever visited the Dominion. Of one of tho visitors, Metcalfe, it can be said that there never was a greater jumper to come here; his amazing list of performances on the southern section of the tour makes that perfectly plain. It has been aptly said that he is a team in himself, and the team is one capable of registering points in plenty in competitions where points come into the reckoning. Stepping off the boat from Sydney a'fortnight ago he went to the Basin Reserve, and there, without any ado, he made a higher jump than 'any previously recorded in New Zealand. He will be back at the Basin Reserve next Saturday, and in the light of what he. has done in the meantime in the South Island there will be every reason to expect more record-shattering performances from this athletic phenomenon. The following tabulated details of his N.Z. performances give striking illustration of the fact that Metcalfe is'the greatest field athlete of his kind to be seen in New Zealand, and one to be ranked with the world's best: High Jump. At Waimate 6ft 2Jin At Dunedin 6ft 3 5-Bin At Invercargill ..... 6ft 3in At Christehurch .... 6ft 4 7-Bin The previous best high jump to be made in New Zealand was that of another i Australian, E. M. Davidson (Victoria), in clearing the bar at 6ft 2}m in 1927. The best high jump by a New Zealander is 6ft o}in by A. A. Cameron (Otago). Broad Jump. At Waimate. 23ft 6Jin At Dunedia 23ft 2in At Christehurch ...,23ft 10 4-sin At Invereargill 22ft 3in Prior to Metcalfe's coming, the greatest^broad jump in New Zealand was that of 'J. W. Merchant (U.S A ) in.clearmg.23ft 3}in in 1923. The best §SfT* n,f hy a New Zealander is •=M±t 3m (by G. P. Keddell in 1906). Hop, Step, and Jump. At Waimate soft 2Mn At Dunedin 47ft -^ At Invercargill 47ft 4in At Chnstchurch ...... goft lin It was at the recent New Zealand championship meeting' at Wellington that the best hop, step, and jump on record for New Zealand was made by H. K. Brainsby (Auckland), whoso distance was'4Bft 2Jin. - ? As though participation in the foregoing events was not enough to show his versatility, Metcalfe has been putting the shot, and his athletic ability does not even end there. He has competed in other events in Australia. His appearance at tho meeting in Wellington next Saturday will afford a great object lesson in important departments of athletic sport. Hauipson, a sprinter of note, has also been carrying all before him, with times for the 100 yds and 220 yds which are remarkably good, considering the varying conditions under which he has been running. As was to bo expected, Barwick, tho distance runner in the Australian team, is taking time to work into form over tho mile, and ho should be at something like his best when he steps out on tho Basin Reserve next Saturday. ■