TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 21007, 22 January 1932, Page 6

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES [By Pistol.] , ■ FIXTURES. January 26 and February 2 and 9. — Civil Service' club championships. Febniary 27.—Otago track and field championships. ’ , , March 11 and 12.—New Zealand track and fielj championships, at Auckland. ENGLAND’S OUTSTANDING MILER. The 'outstanding English miler of the past season was, of course, R. H. Thomas (says H. M. Abrahams, in the .‘Athletic News’). In < 1930 Thomas ,won the A.A.A. championship title in 4min 15 l-ssec—a time which then .was the second fastest ever recorded at our championships. At the British Empire Games at Hamilton some seven weeks later he returned 4min 14sec. This’ year Thoma's made his first appearance on Whit Monday, when at ■ Stamford Bridge he ran right away from somewhat mediocre opposition, and, finishing in 4min 13 2-ssec, beat A.' G. Hill’s ten-year-old record by 2-ssec. Such a magnificent start to the athletic season has naturally, if some.wrhat unjustifiably, led to subsequent disappointments. I expressed the opinion at the time that there was a danger in being so fit so early in the season, and, although Thomas has put up some fine performances since, I still believe that we have not seen the best of which this great athlete is capable, and I anticipate that he will be giving? 4min 12sec a shaking next season. Thomas won. the A.A.A. championship title in 4min 16 2-ssec — a time which would have been a new British record in 1920, but which left ■ us, in these .exacting days, with a slight feeling of dissatisfaction. As a matter of fact, though the aggregate time was three seconds slower than his record of May 25, he ran the first lap some three seconds faster than on the previous occasion, was a second ahead of his May time at half-distance, and" dropped four seconds over the second half. In the R. A.F. championships he set .up a new record of 4mm 16sec., Thomas was beaten bv Ellis in the match against Italy (the Birchfielder returning 4min 17sec —his best performance of the yeas), and he was also beaten by # Ladoumegue in the 1 1,500 metres against. France; his time, however, for the mile worked out pro rata on that occasion at something well inside 4min 13sec. WITH THE WHEELMEN. Eddie Palmer, is going well at present, and should be able to reach form for the Otago championships. J. Taylor has returned to town and is again in training, while Gib. Smith is another who is getting fit quickly. _ Ron Dufican is showing considerable improvement, and the Otago track champion. Jack Fogarty, is doing speed .Work behind' a motor cycle, ard is reported to be in! great fettle. J. Parsons, who won a provincial title two seasons back, is in solid training, and can be depended on to show to advantage at the forthcoming championship meeting. . Others who have been attending to -training seriously are J, Brosnan, R. Wilson-Pyne, H. Stokes, and G. Milligan,., • ■ ; AUSTr. LIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Autralian championships last Saturday and Monday brought to light some remarkably fine track and field performances, and _ outstanding, of course, was the running of Jimmy Carlton, who defeated George Simpson, the American champion, in Wellington last season, and .who also won the Australasian lOOyds aild 220yds championships at the, same place in 1927. Carlton.is now nearing the height of his and brilliant though his performance of 9 4-sseo was for 100yds he capped it on the second day by winning the Australian furlong i—:.mpionship in the magnificent time of 20 3-sseo which equ-lled the world’s record of Roland Locke, the American, made in 1926. The record for a straightaway course is 20 l-ssec, held by Charles Paddock. G. A. Golding, who competed here in the 1930 season and who represented Australia at' the Empire Games, was beaten by inches in the 440yds championship in the good time of 49 4-ssec, but in-the 440yds hurdles registered a sterling, effort to win by four yards in the' Australian record time of 53 9-losec; tjme which makes Golding a possibility for the Olympic 400 metres hurdles title, at present held by Lord Burghley. There were many other performances above the average,'such as 6ft,2|in in the high jump, 14min 23' l-ssec for three miles, Imin 56 l-ssec for the halfmile, 3min 28 1-lOsec for the mile medley relay, and _4min 21 2-ssec for the mile. Australia’ should be able to sort a strong team 'or the Olympic Games, and with Carlton likely to improve still further she has one who is undoubtedly ‘a : potential J Wo'rid y s champion. He is likely to be one of the sensations of the meeting*, V..' V notes. ' ; - L; ,C. M'Lachlan has won races from 50yds to one mile on the track, and has met with considerable success across country, being one of those athletes who have had the distinction of repreenting the province both on the track and across country. A New Zealand champion over the half-mile in 1929, he also won a. heat of the 440yds the same year in fast time. He has held Otago titles over 440yds and 880yds, but this year is turning his attention to the mile - as well. He will in the halfmile and mile at the Otago championships, and-, with a trio such as J, G. Barnes, L. C. M'Lachlan, and A. 11. Geddes to represent it in this event the Civil Service Club should be well served, M'Lachlan’s father, probably New Zealand’s greatest all-round runner from 100yds to 880yds, was at home over any distance,' and the Civil Service man takes after him. The meeting to have'been held last night should give the track and field men a sharpen up, but one or two more evening meetings migh'; well be held before the Otago championships to enable the local men race themselves into their best form. The Civil Service Club makes a start with its championships next week, and the Anglican Club will probably be following suit very shortly. Athough the date has yet to bo definitely fixed, the Southland Sub-centre championships will probably be field on February 13, and as that is just a fortnight before the Otago championships Dunedin athletes would be afforded an 'excellent opportunity of a final try-out before the provincial meeting. The Invercargill meeling is always a uost enjoyable affair, and it is to bo hoped that Dunedin clubs will bo represented at the southern fixture. A. L. Sheppard, the well known jWellington cross-country representative,