AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Evening Star, Issue 17920, 16 March 1922, Page 11

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

[By Spike.]

FIXTim.ES. March 25.—Otago championships.

Intending competitors in the Otago championships ai'o advised to lodgo their entries early. Entries close to-morrow, at the Sports Depot, but in order to facilitate the work of the secretary they should bo lodged early in the day. Late Mitrics cause a great deal of extra work. Most of the local champions are defending their titles on Saturday weck, ( tho foremost being our sprinter, E. B. Stewart. Although Stewart has not vet ranched the height of his track career, it looks as if he will secure at List the three sprint events. However, with Porritt, Davidson, and Let ha by in form the three events are certain to bo very exciting. The clubs are entering into the banner compel it on with more zeal and spirit than hitherto, and tho meeting promises to be of a highly interesting nature. Although the track was against fast times, the standard of performances at the Auckland championships was very -mod Davidson successfully defended his Fit to in the 1 09yds and 220yds, the former ■being won in 10’scc and the latter in dead. Webber, tho Australasian distance champion, was absolutely at homo in the one rnilo and three miles, winning the shorter race by 50yds in 4min 39|sqc, while in the three-mile he ran home an i ..-v winner with 200vds to spare in 16min

6?scc. Plummer recorded 45ft in tho hop, Hep. and jump, while Davidson threw the javelin 155 ft Tin. The nflicials at the Y.M.O. Association’s sport* last Saturday deserve credit for the promptitude with which they ran off the heavy list of events. There was hardly a hitch in tho whole' programme, everything working smoothly. In tno open ' senior events large fields started, and each of tho five competitions were well contested. The performances in tho hop, step, and jump wore not of the usual standard. The longest leap was by the scratch man (Moricel", 41ft. The winner, Burgess, won easily with his handicap of 3ft Sin. In his jumping ha recorded 39ft ilin—a-_ very creditable performance for a ’beginner. However,.his stylo requires, some little correction. Like most of our athletes in this branch, he exacts too much energy for tho hop, thus lessening his chances in the step and jump. For the guidance of the athlete, it'may ho stated that in a jump of 44ft to 46ft the hop should he 15ft to 15ft, tho step from 9ft to lift, and Hie jump 17ft to 20ft. From this it will be seen that in the jump the longest distance fa covered, therefore sufficient energy is retained to give effect to the jump. The javelin throw went to Lethahy, with a distance of 122 ft lOin, Joyce being second with 105 ft lOin. This speaks well for the Anglican Chib at tho championships. However, Owles was absent, and Jovco was nfit np to his best. It will ho well if the following rule was brought under tho notice of every runner at the championships, as it_ might save any chance of a disqualification for jostling;—"A competitor overtaking another must always pass him on the outside (unless the ,man has retired from tho track or is manifestly competing wide), and must he two clear yards ahead before taking ground in front of his opponent.” ■Failure'to observe this rule entails disqualification. At Sydney the Springboks competed in t!m Mew South Wales championships, and won the 100yds and relay race. Although ClortcTlaak won the sprint easily, Johnston failed to overtake the leader in the quar-ter-mile. and finished second to Hutton, whose time was 51 Lee. In the mile Leathern was unplaced in the poor time of 4mm 36?,sec. Sutherland, of Wellington. who is on his way to South Africa, won the ravelin throw, doing 174 ft Tin, thus establishing a fresh Australasian record. He boat Beid’s record by 13Am. As to who holds the world’s record for the mile seems to be a matter of question. Tho professional record is hold by W. G. George, of England, who ran this classic event in a challenge match in 1886 in 4min 12Loc: while' tho -world’s- amateur record was established at the English championships, 1920. by W. A. Hill who was pressed tho full distance by H. B. Stal'ard. of Cambridge University. Hi!! s time was 4min ISSseo. which is tho fastest amateur time. The fastest time ever recorded for the mile was established by H. S. Taber at Bosjin, U.S.A.. in a paced attack on record in_ 1915. However, Tabor’s performance did not stand owing to the fact that it was a “ paced ’’ race. The previous amateur was 4mm 14|sec, established at the. American intercollegiate championships of 1913 by J. P. Jones.