TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 22539, 6 January 1937, Page 4

TRACK AND FIELD

[By Pistol.]

FIXTURES. January 13, 20, and 27. Otago Centre evening meetings, at Caledonian Ground. January 28.—Otago Centre'meeting, Caledonian Ground; Southland Caledonian Society’s sports. February_ 13.—Southland amateur championships. February 20.—Caledonian Society’s gathering. February 27.—Otago amateur championships, at Caledonian Ground. March 12 and 13. New Zealand track and field championships, at Auckland. COMING NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS PROSPECTS FOR OTAGO TEAM Although many of Otago’s leading performers have not yet been seen in action in serioUs competition this season, most of them are in serious training in view of the forthcoming championship meeting. It is early yet to make predictions concerning Otago’s prospects in defence of the championship shield at the New Zealand championships at Auckland, but under ordinary circumstances the province should be able to field a strong team, despite the loss of several pi eminent athletes who have left Dunedin, notable among them being H, J. Tyrie, the New Zealand 440yds- champion, and L. C. M'Lachlan, the former New Zealand mile champion. Otago has always been well placed- in regard to middle-distance and distance runners, and this season should be no exception. The provincial mile champion, W. A. O. Pullar, is training more seriously than ever before, and he should carry Otago’s colours with credit both in the mile and three mile events. Pullar has benefited from the hints he has had from J. E. Lovelock, and should be a much freer runner this season. Good judges have already predicted that he should touch 4.20 for the mile, and any approach towards this time should make him a strong contender for the New Zealand title. Last year Pullar gained second place in the New Zealand _ three mile championship, arid the writer is picking him to be near top form_ when the Otago championships are decided next month. No. athlete contributed more to Otago’s victory in the championship shield last year than A. A. Cameron, the outstanding North Otago athlete, who collected four national titles in the field events. He set a new best on record hy a New ’ Zealander jn the discus, and it will occasion no surprise this year if he exceeds the New, Zealand record mark of 144 ft ; 6.Jin set by Harlow Rothert, the American star, in 1931. Cameron began season in good form with the shot. putt, and besides the hop, step,' and jump and long jump, must also be reckoned with in the high jump. More than any other athlete, he should play a large part in Otago’s defence of the and by the time the meeting, is held in Anck-. land he should be. in rare form. Pullar is not the only candidate for middle-distance honoursj another being Theo Alien, _ who will have to be reckoned with in both the half-mile and mile events. Allen is the present Otago half-mho champion, and,no was second in the mile and third in the half-mile at the New Zealand championships a couple of seasons ago. Allen is being trained this season by E. A. Bastings, who had charge of Lachie M'Laonlan when that athlete reached the top form of his career, and if anyone can bring the best out of Allen, Bastings is the man to do it. Allen has not yet appeared on the track this season, but those who have seen him in training reckon' he will give a great account of himself when the important events of the next month or two happen’ along. Ray Geddes, too, may he depended on to moke things very interesting over three miles, for he has good perfornames to his credit both in the Otago and New Zealand championships. Brian Tapley, the New Zealand 100 yards champion, began his preparation 'for the Dominion championships earlier than usual this season, and when the Otago championships fire decided his physical fitness should leave nothing to worry about. Tapley is the best sprinter Otago has produced in many years, and-his lOsec at the New Zealand championships on a rain-soaked track at Caxisbrook last season was a notable effort. He is moving so well that he must bo very hard to beat in the 100yds at Auckland, but his admirers also reckon he will make a bold

Athletic Notes and Comments

bid to add the furlong to his present title. - >;■ Little has been heard of M. R. Spillane, who has won the New Zealand hammer-throwing .championship • for Otago on the last four occasions, hut he is a’ man who leaves nothing' to chance in his preparationj and it will take a real champion to dispossess'him of the title, the only competitor likely to come within reach of him being th» ex-title-holder, J. G. Decide, who als® carries Otago’s colours. These are' the- principal performers likely to be contenders for- places in. tbe Otago team for Auckland, hut there are others, whose claims will have to be considered. R. J. Watson was a useful point-getter in the walks last season, and being young, he must improve. Alf Price, who gave H. J. Tyrie such, a close race in the New Zealand 440yds championship last season, has not been seen on tbe track this year, and is, indefinite as to whether he will compete in the Otago championships. , The province has two of the best javelin throwers in the Dominion in. Val Newall and Rex Creeser, and though C. P. Clegg, the Auckland holder of the title, seems unlikely to be challenged in this event, either of the two Otago men are likely pointgetters. Creeser is an , ex-New Zealand champion; and was runner-up last year. Newall was third last season and second on another occasion, and he has been training so solidly that it is quite on the cards _ that he will dispossess Creeser of hi* Otago title. There are other events in which. Otago may produce point-getters, and the Otago championships should provide just as interesting competition as ever; The Southland championships on February 13, and the Caledonian meeting here a week-later should be falldress rehearsals for the title meeting on February 27. . OLYMPIC CHAMPION CALLED TO ORDER Jesse Owens, America’* flying negro sprinter, is finding that even a triple Olympic champion cannot do just a* he likes. Owens has Openly defied the American Amatertr Athletic Union of U.S.A., hut he has not got, away .with it, writes J. Armour Milne, in the London 4 Sporting life.’ 44 If the Ohio State University student wants to return to the fold he. must appear before the annual meeting of. the Board of Governed of theA.A.U. in December. If he doe*, he can look forward to a stormy rtime. The A.A.U. officials want to know why he refused to go to Sweden following the match, between the British, Empire and the U.S.A. And th«y are particularly interested in the announcement that he made in .London going, over; to profesaonaliSm....''- r . c v A, . ' ' , 44 Owens .elected .to'onake the Ewedidi trip. -After his spectacular successes in Berlin, the champdon was deluged with invitations, tA compete all over Europe. ~Before going to London’ he ran at Cologne, Prague, and Bochum. His next outing was to have been at Stockholm. --.v- ■'■■■■ 44 The Americans flew from 1 London to Sweden, but Owens was not on the plane. Owens and Larry Snyder, the Ohio State University crack coach,were already making arrangements for their return to the States. When the Olympic champion failed to go to his mark at Stockholm on August 20, he automatically suspended himself; And there, despite his triumphal procession through New York on his return to U.S.A.j he will- stay unless he toe* the - line with -a satisfactory explanation.”- ' NOTES On account of the infantile paralysis epidemic it has been deemed advisable to postpone the meetings that were to have , been held at Milton and Palmerston, during the present month. Jack Metcalfe, who visited here soma years ago, is in Australian athletics what A. A. Cameron is to the sport in the Dominion—a brilliant all-rounder. Metcalfe recently putt the 161 b shot to a distance of 41ft 2}in, but on the same day did not show his best in tbe high jump, in which he tied with D. F. Shetliffe at 6ft. _ The first evening meeting of the'.new year will be hold by the Otago Centra next Wednesday at the Caledonian Ground, 44 Inquirer;”—J. P. Metcalfe holds the Australian high jump record of 6ft 6Jin.