TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 20687, 9 January 1931, Page 4

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES

[By Pistol.]

January 20. 27, and February 3. Civil Servifc Club championships. January 21. —First appearance of American athletes, at Masterton. January 22.—Otago Centre’s fifth evening meet. January 31.—Amateur meet at Palmerston . February 7.—Otago track and field championships. February 25.—American athletes, at Invercargill. February 27 and 23.—New Zealand track and field championships and Americans at Dunedin. AMERICAN ATHLETES. In less than a fortnight the American athletes—Ruins Kiser, George Simpson, and Harlow Rothert—will make their first appearance in New Zealand at Masterton, and in view of that the following account of some of their performances, compiled by a writer in the Christchurch ‘ Star,’ should prove most interesting:— Rufus Kiser is reported to have a brilliant finishing sprint. On several occasions in intercollegiate meets ho has been what the American sporting writers call the “ iron man ” for Washington University. In June, 1923, bo caused a stir on tho Pacific Coast with a great performance in the onemile championship at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s meeting, when he won, in 4min 17 3-ssec. The lime equalled the N.C.A.A. record; but in June last year he did even better He broke the record with another fine win in 4min 16 4-ssec. This year, in April, ho was one of the heroes of the Stanford-Washington University meeting, winning two titles —tho mile, which ho covered in 4min 24.25 cc, and tire half-mile in Imin 57.45ec. Kiser is also an excellent quartcr-miler. Among his list of performances over this distance is a 49 2-3 sec -run. In New Zealand lie will ho offered some strong opposition. At the present time it is not certain whether New Zealand’s star. Randolph Rose, will bo competing, but doubtless he will be out before the tour is over. His farm iu Inglewood is keeping Randolph a very busy man, and he is nob in training, but provided ho can find the time past performances—notably his great run at Wellington early last year against Leo Lcrmond, and later hi* fine achievement iu running away from the field in the Now Zealand cross-country championship—have shown that lie does not require a great deal of work to get into racing trim. There are others iu New Zeawho no doubt will provide Kiser with hard contests.

With Frank Wykotf and the negro, Ed. Tolan, George Simpson is iu the first lliglii of present-day American sprinters. There is, according to reports. little if any difference between the three over 100yds—just a question, probably, of who feels most like the race, on a given day. But over the furlong Simpson seems to stand supreme. Ho lias consistently broken lOsee for the 100yds and 2lsec for the 220yds. In the States he is known as tiie “ Ohio Buckeye Bullet,” and there ar« others who acclaim him as the “ world's fastest human.” His fast times, of course, have been made on cinder tracks, and probably the grass tracks in New Zealand, as also will be the ease with Kiser, will bo something new to him; hut, nevertheless, lie no doubt will be too fast for our New Zealand sprinters in races off the scratch mark. Simpson’s principal opponents in New Zealand probably will be A. J. Elliot (Auckland), who since the last New Zealand championships lias had the benefit of the trip to the British Empire Games, and C. H. Jenkins, of Wellington. present 220yds New Zealand champion. Ana now we come to the “ strong ” man of the team, Harlow Rothert, whoso specialty in athletics is the field events. Originally Rothert was nob iu the team, but in view of liis wonderful qualifications and the strong recommendation made by Air Krogncss for his inclusion, lie eventually was invited to accompany Simpson and Kiser. Rothert. apparently is an athletic personality on the Pacific Coast, and is a splendidly-built athlete. Besides being a notable field events exponent lie is a loading university basket ball and foot

ball player, and in the latter sport he is recognised as one of the best punters in America. Rothert has hurled the shot 52ft Oiili and the discus 15-4 ft, which arc performances better by some feet than the best accomplished to date by P. Munro, of Wellington, holder of the New Zealand shot and discus championships. OTAGO ATHLETES IN CANTERBURY. B. R. M'Kcrnan lias been racing in Otago for many years both on the track and across country, and, though his best days may be past, the Civil Service veteran is frequently found in the places in Dunedin item handicap marks. He is nearly forty years of age, and has had to do with the training of many of Otago’s best middle-distance runners, including such champions as E. h. Brown, G. M. Olsen, and L. C.* M'Lachlan. With M'Lachlan and young A. R. Geddes, M'Kcrnan spent the holidays in Canterbury, hut the trio ran only at a couple of meetings, M'Kernan stating that for M'Lachlan to have won some of the events he would have had to go near to world’s record time. M'Lachlan was not expected by Dunedin athletic followers to meet with a great deal of success over the holidays, as ho had not done a gieat deal of racing, but at Prcbbleton M'Kcrnan timed him to do 52 l-ssec for ■Uuyds, though ho was lading a hit at the finish. Yet M'Lachlan did not finish in the first six. The race was won by J. L. Scott (132yds) in 49 l-ssoc. M'Kcrnan is an athlete whose opinions are worth having, and ho says that it is not surprising that many of Canterbury’s outstanding runners in tbo past few years have not shown their true form at the New Zealand championships because they have had the dash raced out of them by having to give away very long starts in fast-run races long before tho big meet. When it is mentioned that at Halswell tho winner of tho 880yds handicap had the big limit of 85yds, it can be seen that there is something in this contention, especially as the time was returned at Imin 513 l-ssec. At this meeting M'Kernan, who has done plenty of racing this year, was second from the back mark off" 30yds, but lie had no chance. Tie is a good honest runner, hut his best is well over two minutes. M'Kernan says that the Canterbury tracks are very fast, and that in many cases middle distance races are begun at a faster bat than is tho case in tho south. He holds a high opinion of Bullivant. the Canterbury quarter-mile champion, who i» a strong, powerful runner, though still on the raw side. The veteran reckons Bullivant will make some of the middle-distancers take notice of him at the New Zealand championships if he is not given an overdose of hard racing before then. The racing should do M'Lachlan good and ho should bo capable of running a pretty useful quarter or half on his next appearance on tho track. CIVIL SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Civil Service Club’s championship meetings are to be held on January 20, January 27, unci February 3 next, tho programmes being as follows: —January 20 r 100yds, 880yds, broad jumu, hop, step, aiid jump, one-mile walk, and throwing javelin. January 27: 220yds, one-mile, 120yds hurdles, 440yds hurdles, hammer throwing, discus tin-owing. February 3: 440yds, two miles, high jump polo vault, and .shot putt. The half-mile should be a great race, with such well-known runners as M'Lachlan, Thompson, Barnes, Gcddos, and M'Kernan taking part and it will nob be surprising to find fast time being registered at this meeting. ... AMONG THE WHEELMEN. Most of tho riders who have been taking things easy during the holidays recommenced their training during the week, and are looking forward to the races listed for decision at the Otago Centre’s fifth evening meet, to be hold on January 22. While most riders who competed ‘during tho Christmas and New Year were imbued with tho holiday spirit two or three who were a little late in commencing their early season training took their racing seriously, and were rewarded thereby. Gib. Smith, who began to give a glimpse of his best form early in December, lias never relaxed in his preparation, and immediately on his_ return from the Otago Central meetings ho went into training. Gib. gave some lino displays at AVaipiata and Ranfurly, and is at present riding better than ever. If he retains his present fitness whoever beats him in any event at the provincial championships should just about win.

Joo Parsons is another who _ competed , seriously during the holidays. Ho showed something like his old form in the mile scratch race at Waipiata, but is a little backward in his training, and will have to make good use of the present month to make up the leeway if he desires to successfully defend his three-mile title. Joe wastes a lot of valuable time between the bell and the point from which he commences his Sinai sprint. Prank Harty, who made his debut on the Otago Central tracks, is possessed of the proper riding spirit, but as lie had not indulged in any training beforehand ho could not keep his handicap Ho finished well, however, and should find the local track more to bis liking, L. A. M‘Geo, G. Hotherington, am| tho Beale brothers wore all prevented from making the trip to tho Central owing to a breakdown in their arrangements.

Tlio displays given by J. G. Fogarty at Christmas Li mo were entirely foreign to him. He was suffering from the effects of a severe cold, and with the exception of tho half-mile at Ivanfurlv to where ho cycled half an hour before the meeting commenced, he could not stick the distances. Ho has made a good recovery, however, and after i week’s spell recommenced training on Monday night.

One who should give good display.-’ in 'forthcoming races is Ted Fletcher, who has just returned from the North Island. After riding to Christchurch in easy stages Ted crossed to Wellington, and last week-end competed in three races at a meeting outside Hamilton. He found the grass track very rough, and badly sloped, while the risks taken by most of the competitors made riding more dangerous. In the mile handicap .Fletcher was blocked, but finished well up. He rode splendidly in tho two-mile event, and looked a win nor early, but, miscalculating the number of laps when well in the lead he

had to be content with second place. On the return journey ho made good time ironi Christchurch. Jim Milne, who Ims done very little training since his success in the Otago Club’s B grade championship, is again troing well, but iiis position on his machine could be further improved. Frank Healey, the popular ox-eye mg handicapper of the Otago Centre _ is t now stationed at Oinaknu, and during the visit of the Dunedin cyclists he could not do enough for them. Frank intends to make every effort to bo present at the Otago championships next month.

in town during the week was -me handicapper (Mr J. Eunson) of the Invercargill Amateur Cycling Club. Des. Hussey, who showed good promise on both road and track, is at present on leave from his employment near Balclutha.

Several parties of local cyclists vent touring during the holidays, but one party found the pace set by the Hanover Baptist rider (Don Thompson) more of*n task than a pleasure. Hert Stokes stuck to him until Cromwell was reached, then giving up. Thompson kept going on his own, adding In vercragill to the circuit and showing that he is a tiger on the road After the Raufurly meeting A. M. Johnston and L. C. Ferguson spent the remainder of the holidays in touring further up Central, so that t.oth sh nild show good form on their next outing on the track. NOTES. The first open evening meet of the year, under the auspices of the Otago Centre, will be held on January 22, this being the governing body’s fifth night meet this season. Entries will close on Saturday, January 17. J. G. Barnes competed in several events both days at Timaru over the Now Year, but, running from the hack marks in the mile and half-mile, he met with no success. The racing should benefit him considerably, however. The Dunedin Club’s middle-distancer, who had not been showing his true form prior to Christmas, has suddenly run into shape, and on the second day at Timaru won the 880yds amateur handicap off 35yds in Imin 58 4-ssee. _ He was syds back entering the straight, but put in a great sprint halfway down the straight to win by syds. The University hurdler, T. R. Buxton, won the 440yds hurdles at Timaru off Byds in 60 2-ssec, also the 220yds flat handicap off 14yds in 23 2-ssec. The Otago 440yds hurdles champion, A. H Malcolm, had a busy time at tins meet- • ing, being second in the hurdles from scratch, third off 10yds in a 440yds handicap on the first day, won by T. O’Leary (35yds) in 50 3-ssec, and unplaced in several other events. Malcolm will not be a competitor, at the Otago championships next month, as he is now teaching at the Hamilton Jfligh School, but it is on the cards that he will bo competing at the Auckland championships. An Otago athlete who met Malcolm in Timaru told the wntei that there was a possibility that E. C. Morgan, who dead-heated for first place in the 220yds championship of New Zealand at Wanganui in 1925 at the ago of nineteen, might also be induced to take up the sport again in Hamilton, where he, too, is stationed. Anothei brother, O. Morgan, represented Auckland in the New Zealand sprint championships last year and reached the finals. In town last week was Bart Provo, who is now an enthusiastic member oi the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club. Bart has been handicapped by the fact that the club has not possessed a-vault-ing pole, but one is to be procured and the ex-Anglican man should be readj for the Otago championships. The Invercargill Club has been rather unlucky on the score of weather for its evening meetings, but Bart expects it to be well represented at the Otago championships. He has ( already got busy among the field men, and states that Greaser, the well-known half-miler and mder, shows promise with the javelin, which he heaved over 120 ft at the first time of asking. Bart himself has improved with the discus and is now capable of throwing over 110 ft, which is likely to keep big Jim Leckio busy at the Otago championships. Wearing the fateful number 13, bid Campbell was in.the bunch that swept round the last bend of the Halswell track in the great finishing effort m the Halswell Wheel Eace says the Christchurch ‘Star’). There was a grating of touching handlebars. One ridei was bumped hack, to come again and scoie the narrowest of seconds. No, it was not Campbell. The. wearer of No. 13 had a wheel in front when the straight was reached, and lie won by about a length. , „ The All Black Rugby player, G. *. Hart, showed very Hue form at the Amberley sports (according to the Christchurch ‘Sun.’), winning the <oyds amateur championship of Canterbury in the great time of 7 3-ssec. In the professional events at Timaru there was an outstanding field athlete, Alistair Cameron, a cousin of E. O. Johnson, the crack amateur field athlete. Cameron cleared sft llin in the high jump and 46ft 6in in the hop, step, and jump, which show's his consistency, as he did 46ft llin at Duntroon the previous week. Jack Morris has not done much running over the holidays, but he does not take much preparation to get fit, and if lie stands up to it should strike form for the Otago championships, in which there is likely to be very keen competition with such runners as Morris, Barnes, L. Wood, and J. Lovelock taking part. There are not a few who think that Lovelock may bo one of the surprise packets at the forthcoming New' Zealand championship meeting, for he is expected to run even better than he did last year, when he registered imin 25 4-ssec. Otago’s greatest lack at the moment is a sprinter of championship calibre. There are one or two of promise, but so far they have not shown championship form. The young Anglican runner, W. Pullar, won the half-mile handicap at Springfield off 55yds in 2min 24-3 sec. Pullar was third into the straight, but ho came with a great finish to score a good win. The grow'th of amateurism in Otago is revealed by the change-over this year of the Waipiata Club from professional to amateur, and this club is seeking affiliation with the Otago Centre, to which another dub, further south, is also applying for affiliation. The latest to apply is the Wyndham Amateur Athletic Club, and as this centre used at one time to supply not a few good athletes to the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club it should not want for members.