Some Competitors

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 205, 13 August 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

Some Competitors

Coloured Athletes Prominent at the Games

Remarkable Careers of Two Americans Tolan and Metcalfe

Irishman Popular With All

Coloured men at various times have been among the best athletes in the world, and it was therefore not something strange to find two American negroes, Eddie Tolan and Ralph Metcalfe, finishing first and second respectively in a thrilling finish in the final of the 100 metres at the Olympic Games, says a writer in the "Post.” Tolan has been in the forefront for several seasons; Metcalfe is a newcomer, but he has been one of the sensations of the present American track season.

Sprinters such as Frank Wykoff and Bob Kiesel! have occupied much of the limelight in the American sporting Press of late, and not a great deal has appeared regarding Tolan, who at the tenth Congress of the International Amateur Athletic Federation in Berlin, in May, 1930, had his times of 9|sec for 100 yards and lO.lsec for 100 metres placed on the list of world’s records. A Detroit negro and a university student, Tolan is said to be a picturesque figure. In August last year he ran 100 metres in 10 3-10 sec, and beat Wykoff. He is referred to as a powerful runner, with a tremendous finish, and better over the 100 metres than the 100 yards. Tolan, according to the cabled description of the final! of the ICO metres at Los Angeles, certainly

has shown that to be true. The first that was heard of the, ability of Ralph Metcalfe, who is a student at Marquette University, Milwaukee, was in a cable message from Chicago in June, which stated that in one day he set three new world’s records. Next came that in the final try-outs lor the selection of America’s Olympic representatives he beat Tolan and George Simpson (who was in New Zealand last year) in the 100 metres. Since then he has been referred to as the “Marquette Marvel’’ and “the phenomentali Negro runner.’’ When he broke the three records at Chicago in June he started the track world in America. This is what Robert Edgern, American sports writer, had to say of him after that meeting

“Runs Like a Gazelle.” “Metcalfe is powerfully built, 5 feet 11 inches in height, and weighing around 180 pounds. They say he walks like a panther. He certainly runs like a gazelle. Much of his speed is due to his powerful calves and piston leg drive, which literally hurl him over the ground. Though many sprinters are prima donnas in their line, Metcalfe is ready to race at all times. He has confidence in his ability to beat an.> sprinter he meets. Well he might have, for he has won every qualifying heat m which he has competed, both indoors and outdoors. . . He has plenty of en flurance, as a glance at the three new records in one day will testify, and n anything prefers the longer dashes t> the shorter ones. There is a story tha. he was even tightened up during In record-breaking runs, due to his >u. xiety to make the. Olympic try-outs i so, there seems littl'e hope for Kiesel Wykoff, and Toppino to romp home in front when he is really himself.” George Simpson, former Ohio State University representative, at one of the series of try-out meetings held in different parts of America, bettered tlm

Olympic record for 2GO metres and equalled the Olympic record for ICO metres.

Ladies’ 100 Metres. The cabled report stated that Miss Kench (New Zealand) did not run to form in the ladies’ 100 metres. High hopes had been built up of her doing well, and on this basis her performance is disappointing. Miss Stella Walsh (Poland), who registered record time in her heat of the 100 metres ladies', is referred to in America as "the world’s fastest woman.” In trial events at Cleveland on 11th June she was responsible for several record-breaking performances. Apart from her calibre as a sprinter, Miss Walsh is also a champion with the discus. She was born in Poland, and her family name is Walasziewiez. Miss Walsh competed for Poland at

Prague in 1930 in the women's Olympics, winning three first places. An Irish Star. Dr. Patrick O’Callaghan (Ireland), who repeated his performance of the 1928 Olympic Games by again winning the hammer-throw, was expected to be an attraction. There are not many athletes who have had the distinction of twice winning the same event at the Olympic Games, but in the hammerthrow another Irishman who repre-

seated U.S.A.—J. J. Flanagan—won three times, in 1900, 1904, and 1908. Flanagan’s best effort was 170 ft 4Jin, and O’Callaghan’s winning throw was 176 ft 11 l-Bin. O’Callaghan, who is a physician, is described as a fine, congenial fellow, and a real amateur in the best sense of the word. He was referred to in the following terms by a German, Dr. Willy Meisl, in an article published in the “New York Times” this year:—“All previous Olympic hammer-throw champions, such as J. J. Flanagan, McGrath, and Ryan, except Fred Tootell in 1924, were IrishAmericans and scored for the United States. O’Callaghan was the first Irishman to carry the title back to his native land. Flanagan himself declared that O’Callaghan was the first man apable of throwing the hammer beyond he 60-metre mark, and in 1931 .VCallaghan, in competition, reached .(>.OB metres for a new European reord. Pat Ryan, jun., nephew of the .vorld-famous record-holder, will also be on hand with O’Cailaghan to compete for Ireland. If the old pentathlon were still included in the Olympic programme O’Callaghan would have a great opportunity to triumph. The Irish star is a giant, weighing some 104 kilogrammes and measuring 1.90 metres m height. He can <mt the shot about .4.45 metres, throw the discus 43.28 netres, and, despite his weight, he is apable of doing better than 7' metres ■n the broad jump. He is also able to clear 1.93 in the high jump. Moreover, the brilliant Irish athlete runs the 400 metres in 0.52 and skims over the 110nretre hurdles in 0.15.4. It is not

surprising, therefore, that he is also flirting with the idea oft winning, aside from hammer-throw honours, a gold medal in boxing. He is the Irish heavy-weight cnampiou, and has never been defeated. Never has O’Callaghan heard the gong for the second round. Every one of his opponents has gone down and out in the first round. The Irish physician is one of the greatest athletic phenomena of the world today.” In finishing fourth in the 10,000 metres, J. W. Savidan (New Zealand) was far from disgraced. The winner of the event, Jan Kusocinski, is counted among the best of the European long-distance runners.