ATHLETICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 February 1926, Page 10

ATHLETICS

It is long since such “white hot” enthusiasm lias been stirred by the performances of visiting or local athletes. The interest surrounding the running of Scholz and Hahn is tremendous, and now that Rose and Hahn have each a win in the mile championship, their next meeting will be awaited with exceptional interest. It is to be hoped that conditions then will be of the best—a good track and fine weather, without wind —and it will be a veritable Homeric contest worthy of the Olympic Games. A E. Porritt, the New Zealand athlete now at Oxford University, was prominent in the recent inter-univer-sity relay carnival, won by Cambridge by four events to one. Pomtt represented Oxford in two events, the naifmile .relay and the hurdles, run in three relays. Here Porritt was Oxford’s last string for the final distance, which the rivals started on equal terms. Porritt, who goes over the hurdles in a style of his own, won by three yards in lmin 6 4-ssecs, which is only 2-5 outside the record. Taking the conditions into consideration,, the performances were somewhat remarkable. One part of the track was frozen so hard that it was difficult to drive a spade into it to make the _ starting holes, while another part which had had the sun shining on it .all the morning was covered with standing water, and on a pond away in the distance, yet plainly discernible to the spectators at the carnival, skating was .progressing merrily. . w Whilst competing at a small mee£j«ig last May, Scholz, the American runner now in New Zealand, recorded the sensational time of 94sec for the s.ooyds, which is l-10sec better than, the world’s record of 9 3-ssec, standing to the credit of Charles Paddock. When he arrived in Auckland Scholz said that difficulty was being experienced in obtaining recognition of the performance, owing to the fact that 4 )ie meeting was a small one. Three watches recorded the time as 9ssecs. Advice hag since been received from the Amateur Athletic Union of America to rhe effect that the record has been recognised. It has vet to be passed by the International Federation. A London writer recently stated *hat he had teen informed that Paddock, with a flying start, covered the distance •n* 2 9-10 sec. the performance being accomplished in California during 1923.