Athletics

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 65, 17 March 1934, Page 20

Athletics

By "Snrlirter."

AUSTRALIAN TEAM

SATURDAY'S MEETING

METCALFE'S TECHNIQUE

Lasting impression's of his ability as a jumper have been left behind him- by J. P. Metcalfe, who with the two other Australian athletes,-T. E.-Hampson and E. W. Barwick, has now gone further north in continuation of the team's New Zealand tour. ' Ho arrived in the Dominron 'with a fine reputation, and at each of the meetings at which he has competed he has fully lived up to all that has been said of, him. ' Notwithstanding varying conditions and the amount of travelling he and his companions have done, his performances have been most consistent and of a standard not previously seen in this country. Conditions were rather against super; lative achievements at the Basin Eeserve . on; Saturday afternoon, but, nevertheless, Met'ealfe,, though in the South Island he had recorded better, performances in the broad jump and the hop,'step, and jump, gave a scintillating display in the high jump. His 6ft 4Jin, equalling the best he had done in the South Island, was a splendid effort. He was the big attraction, and no pne could have been disappointed with the showing he made in this event. It was amazing the way this splendidly-developed^-athlete got over the bar*. To see him in the air before he kicked those powerful; legs of his over the bar; made one wonder how on earth he was going to manage' it. How he does it few were able to follow, so quick is the execution of his technique when he is over the bar. He confounded quite a few keen, observers. Metcalfe's methods, as a result of patient, careful study, are polished. When he-returns r, to Sydney he< proposes preparing lectures on. the three jumps, and Mr. L. A. Tracy, hon. secretary of the N.Z.A.A.A., has arranged to obtain copies of these for use in New Zealand.. .■:.-. :-.'.":.■•. • •■;.. Apart from Metcalfe's performances, added interest was given to the high jump by the fine form, displayed by the Wellington and ex-New Zealand .champion, T. J. Crowe., He has never jumped bettor, and his best effort of-"sft llfin (announced in the first place as 6ft), together with his.handicap of sin, put Metcalfe on his mettle. Inthe final result Metcalfe won by the narrow margin of one-eighth of an inch; Before Metcalfe made his winning clearancethe bar'was .announced as being, up 6ft sin,; but 'on the height being measured sagging of . the bar resulted in the loss of the o.ne-eighth of an inch. In Crowe's ease a quarter of an inch came off. - , . > Though,he is not the perfect,machine, some other visiting . sprinters have en; Hampson is'certainly a speedy .cunner.,. He,develops pace quickly and finishes, his .races:, with.a punishing burst of speed.. Under, the- conditions his times .'were, .distinctly . good. .If everything, is in, order he, may yet be able to return 9\3rssec for the short, sprint before tiele'a-yes the Dominion— possibly/on, the: fast'.iDbmain. . track,v, at Auckland. ■:;■ :!; f . ~. -.-■•■• Although he won] by a clear.-cut" margin, Barwick.Js',tinie'4? imin'SO'l-Ssec-for the mile waS" slow.' '''He' 'lias' not been able :to^ strike .the . form he has shown in Australia over the* miieV'for which' distanc.e. he ~is the. holder of, the Australian' record' ol'4miri 17sec.' After ;seeirig him in .action^ bite inclines'to the belief that "the probably now is, a better;inan over-the'longer distances. As support for this there are his -performances ■of last winter. He ■has "a'Stiff action,, and his'style could hardly bo held up as worthy of emulation. .But thn't "is Barwick's own affair. Ho measured up his field well on Saturday. T; A. Rafter made him run ;for it, land it looked for; a few seconds that he might-be able to shake off "the Tasmaniaftj -but Barwiek exerted' further pressure and the race was- his. ■'■■ ;"',.;■". • - : : ■ ■;-.:'. .;■ ' The three Australians, have proved a popular combination, and the large attendance at- the Basin ': must have been most gratifying to Mr. A. C. Kitto, president .of the Wellington Centre, and officials generally. Though-there are big items..on the expenrUture side of the ledger, the financial returns from this, and the national meeting should help considerably to brighten the outlook, for the centre, and, as Mr. Kitto hinted on Saturday, enable it to do: a j little more for competitors next season. The tour has; prqyed ', once, again the contention" that there is need of :a .good attraction each" season in the Dominion, and that class performers I will always' draw the Wellington public.1 '-' ■ "'■ • ■',';■■<'-. ' •■ ■■-.■•■ •:■":.'■