WHANGAREI ATHLETES

Northern Advocate, 10 November 1934, Page 8

WHANGAREI ATHLETES

WEEkLY COMPETITIONS SCHOOL TOO GOOD IN RELAY. The wliahgarci Amateur Athletic Club held its usual weekly meeting at the High School grounds last evening. Accurate handicapping by Mr J. G. Britland provided some close finishes. Results in detail were as follows: 220 Yards, Junior Boys, Handicap.— Wilson 1, Marshall 2, Crozier 3, Time —3os. 220 Yards, Senior Boys, Handicap,— Davidson 1, Kermode 2, J. Blake and Martin (equal) 3. Time—2ss. 220 Yards, Men’s Handicap.—A. R. Smith 1, A. Campbell 2, R, Donaldson 3, Time—27s.

Relay Races.—Day Girls beat the Boarders in four relays of 350 yards. A race well worth seeing was the relay between the High School team : (J. Blake, •G. Leigh, J. Falvey and C. Ray) and the Athletic Club (R.' Donaldson, L. Winstanley, A. Campbell and L.Mcßeath). Leigh gained a lead of about 15 yards on. the first ! lap, and this proved too much • of a leeway for the others to make up. Blake ran finely to outpace Mcßeath; Winstanley gained a little on Falvey, and Ray was rapidly being overhaul- . ed by Donaldson. 700 Yards, Junior Boys’ Handicap (2 laps).—Day 1, B. Rogers 2, Sales 3, Time —1.525. .• . , * 700 Yards, Senior Boys’ Handicap.— Martin 1, J. Blake 2, McGregor and Wallace, equal 3. Time—l.4o 1-5. 700 Yards, Men’s Handicap.—McBeath 1, McNaughton 2, A. R. Smith 3. Time—l. 32 2-5. Long duhip.—R. Donaldson (scr), 19ft sin, 1; E. Wilson (9in), 18ft Sin, 2. . TRAINING NOTES THE 220 YARDS. This is one of the most difficult of all distances and the successful furlong runner has to be a tactician as well as being a sprinter with some staying power. Most trainers agree that the race should be run in three stages; the first and last being at top speed with an intermediate stage in which the runner just strides. Only an exceptional runner can hope, , to run the full distance at top speed.; The training programme is the same as was given for the 100 yards, except that it is advisable to run over longer distances, up to and including 300 yards. Starting and finishing should also be practised carefully. If the race is run on a curve it should be remembered to lower the inside arm when rounding the bend as this maintains the balance of the body. • MODERATION IN TRAINING. One thing that the young runner must remember is not to give full rein to his enthusiasm. No athlete can be a success without training, but many young athletes are ruined at the outsets of thfeir careers by over-enthus-iasm. Though there are many who advocate otherwise, the young athlete should not go on a diet. There are some who make the housewife’s task a very unenviable one during the track season by becoming food fanatics. For the average runner good wholesome food and plenty of it should be the ideal. A day or two before a big race perhaps a little discrimination should be exercised, but apart from that continue to eat and drink normally. Again, the young athlete should remember that a long walk is better training than a long run. The latter merely serves to shorten your stride, while the former is beneficial in more ways than one.