GREATEST FURLONG RUNNER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 November 1930, Page 10

GREATEST FURLONG RUNNER

opinion of sriviPisox. COMING TO XE'W ZEALAND Two of the outstanding athletes at tlto meeting between teams 1 representing the British Empire and the United State's of America, which, was held! at Chicago almost immediately after the Empire Games in Canada, were Eddie Tolan, the coloured ,100yds -champion of the United States, and Gcorige Simpson, the 220yds champion. As Simpson is to tour Xew Zealand this summer, what H. R. Weir, manager of the Australian team at the Empire iG'a'me's, has to say about the two American sprinters is- of special interest. Writing about them, after :he returned .to Australia, Weil* said:

Tolan, a full-blooded negro, is short and stocky, but apparently pos'se'sse's enormous driving power in. hi's legs, for in addition to having a victory over Percy Willi'aims at Vancouver to his credit this year, he is also the official holder of the world’s record of 100 yds, viz., Oiscic. Naturally, of course, the American fans claim that Tolan is the successor of that great sprinter Charlie Paddock, termed the “world’s fastest human,” but I am firmly of the opinion that, fit and well, 'Williams is superior to the “Midnight. Express,” as Tolan is* dubbed by the American sporting writers. It was a great pity that Williams was unable to compete at Chicago. Tolan has a 1 g.rea't rival in George Simpson, of the Ohio State University, over the century dash, and Simpson is actually his superior over the furlong. ‘Simpson is unquestionably tit the present time the greatest. 220yds runner in tin? world. 'Several times he has equalled the world’s* records for both 1(10 and 220yds, but because of the fact t'lia't on each occasion lie has u'sed starting blocks, his effort's have not been officially recognised. Unlike most American sprinters, Simpson is very slightly built, but, like Williams, it is his perfect- balance and swinging stride which enable him to eat up space.

Expressing the hope that Simpson will bo- able t'o visit Australia as well as Xew Zealand, Weir adds that lie is a most likeable fellow and 1 a really great sprinter.