THE JAVELIN THROW.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 11 August 1928, Page 6

THE JAVELIN THROW.

STAN. LAY AT AMSTERDAM. MAY YET ESTABLISH RECORD (By “Physical Culturist.”) “To say that Hawera, in fact all New Zealand, was disappointed, when their Olympia representative failed to quality lor the imal javelin throw at Amsterdam is to put it mildly. Many ot his supporters seemed to think after his fine enort of 225 ft 9in at Staniioid Bridge on July 7, it was not- a case ot who would win the Olympic honours, but how much Lay would win by. wtilers again were confident he would reach the final and among these was the writer. Several have asked did 1 think he would win. My invariable answer was that I was hopeful he would be in the first three. I could not forget some nine or ten months ago Pv. A. Rose told me that when on tlie continent he had seen a Swede throw the javelin 22th t. from memory i think Lis name was Lundguist, the same name as the winner at Amsterdam. Pentilla, of Finland, had been credited with 229 ft 3 l-6in. Another rinnish thrower Myrra had a record ot 224 ft Ilin. Several others were known to be knocking at the door. . . It is true 1 suppressed the opinion that providing no unforeseen circumstances arose 230 ft would be within Lay’s limit at Amsterdam. Iliere have been so many reversals ot form so manv star athletes have crashed, that it is" no disgrace that the Hawera youth in his first contest with the world’s best for supremacy failed to win the laurels. So many determining factors are possible to account for his unimpressive display that until vie learn under what conditions the issue was decided it is useless to conjecture, it is being reasoned by some oi his friends that the moral effect of having to compete against such great throweis would account for his not reaching his previous best. Whatever the cause I or one cannot conceive this as the- reason. if Stan had a knowledge of the class of competition he would have to meet and if anything it would put him rio-ht’ on his mettle. A chilly day would undoubtedly affect him materially where it would have far less effect on the continental athletes. Another feature is the fact that though at present he has a physique which has appealed to critics m England, he has not reached his zenith in development and strength. Probably he was the youngest exponent of javelin throwing at the games—-I say probably; I shall be surprised if any of his competitors arei less than two or three years older than himself, probably all matured and heavier men. It is claimed for most of these that they have done even better in practice than in competition. VVitn Lay the reverse has been the rule. He j assured me before leading foi the Games he had never thrown better m private practice than in public, thus givinv further proof that he has vvhat amongst athletes is termed the “running heart” —tlie bigger the struggle the better he will try. How often 1 mv© we seen men in, say, putting the shot, keep showing abound 40 to 42 feet, then one day reach 44, get back to 42, then unexpectedly touch 45, even alter remaining consistently at 44 to 4o feet. In the hop, step, and jump a young i-ellow shows 39fi, a year later 41 ? six months later 43, and in another six months 45ft, and then _suddenly 47, back again to 44 and 45, then in another spasm he touches 47, and from thence- forward has remained between 45 and 46, his limit. . J take it this is happening with our representative. He has done remarkable well in a short time. A\ ith the experience he will gain at the games, should he continue with the javelin on his return, in another two years the Olympic record will be again broken. As it is, Stanley Lay shares with only one- other New Zealand athlete the honour of winning an English championship, to wit George Smith. It is quite on the cards that, favoured with a warm sunny day, the Antipodean may equal, if not surpass, liis last fine throw at Stamford Bridge, which in itself has fully justified the Olympic Council in making Lav their first selection. Although he missed his prime- objective, his English championship win surpassed the h e st recorded at Amsterdam.