THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18756, 9 July 1924, Page 11

THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

PROGRESS OF EVENTS.

ABRAHAMS WINS 100 METRES.

NEW ZEALANDER RUNS THIRD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrisal (Beceived 5.5 pan.) A. and N.Z.—Rfeuter. PARIS. July 7. For the Olympic Games to-day there was glorious weather and a large attendance. In the 100 metres race the first semi-

In the 100 metres race the first semifinal resulted:—Scholtz (America), 1; Porritt (New Zealand), 2; Murchison (America), 3. Time, 10 4-ss. Porritt got away last, and for a time appeared to have no chance of being placed, but by a magnificent finishing effort he almost taught Scholtz on the tape.

The second semi-finai resulted:—Abrahams (Britain), 1; Paddock (America), 2; Bowman (America), 5. Time, 10 3-ss» "Slip" Carr ran a brilliant race. He led the field for 10yds. The others then closed up, and in a thrilling race Carr was beaten for third place by inches only. The first three in each of the semifinals competed in the final, which Abrahams won. Scholtz was second and Porritt third. The time was 10 3-ss. Porritt's Pine Performance. This race provided the sensation of the day. Abrahams' victory was the first .success an Englishman has evei gained in the 100 metres sprint at the Olympic Games. Abrahams equalled the world's record three tunes in" the course of the j race. He was slightly behind Porritt and Scholtz in the first half of the final, but a wonderful sprint enabled him to overhaul them and come away at about 801 metres to win by four feet. There was a great demonstration by the representatives of all nations, in which the Americans were conspicuous. It lasted for 10 minutes. When the Union Jack was hoisted the British National Anthem was sung the whole essemblage standing. Bowman (America), was fourth and Paddock (America), fifth. Mnrchison was sixth. All those in the final were Englishspeaking competitors. Porritt made a perfect start, bnt was badly placed to the 60 metres mark. There, dashing up even with the field and never j letting down, he made a beautiful finish, coming in inches only behind Scholtz. Interviewed Porritt said he never felt better. Sunday's racing had sharpened him up. The general opinion is that E. W. Carr (Australia), did excellently but that he is not quite the class of the finalists. The 1000 metres cycling race was won by Dempsey. The French champion, Michard, did not start, bnt all the other cracks competed. Coppins and Broadbent, the Australians, won their heats, but were beaten in the semi-finals. "Boy" Charlton (Australia) was not placed in the trial 1500 metres swimming race. The time was 21m., which beat 3 Hodgson's Olympic record of 22m., and is only 10s. slower than Borg's world's record.

Running and Jumping Events. The 400 metres hurdles resulted:— Taylor (America), 1; Vil'.en (Finland), 2; Riley (America), 3. The time was 52 3-55., a world's record. Brooking (America) finished second, but was disqualified for trailing his leg around a hurdle.. The 800 metres race, first semi-final, resultedj-=-StaUard (Britain), 1; Richardson (America), 2; Martin (Switzerland), 3. In the second semi-final the placed men were:—Lowe (Britain), 1: Houghton (America), 2; Watters (America), 3. The third semi-final resulted:—Dodge (America), 1; Enck (America), 2; Hoff (Norway), 3. The high jump resulted:—Osborne (America), 1; Brown (America), 2; Lowden (France),"3. The winner cleared 6ft. 6in.

The long jump was won by Le Gwidre (America), who also won his heat in the Pentathlon, the five-event championship, which forms one group in the Games. The 'winning jump was 25ft. 6in., a world's record. ~ .■' In the polo, Britain beat Spain by 10 goals to 3, and Argentina beat America by 6 goals to 5. Crowds Cheer Kecord-Breakers. ' Ritola (Finland) won the 10,000 metres race yesterday in the world's record time of 30m. 23 l-sa. In the final of the javelin throwing, J, Myrra (Finland) threw a distance of 62.96 metres. At the close of to-day's events the United States is leading with 54 points. New Zealand is seventh with lour points. The crowds were excited by the recordbreaking. They joined in the most weird national cries, creating a deafening din, the thousands of Americans predominating. The spectators were particularly demonstrative when Taylor and Le Gendre established their' two new records within five minutes. Le Gendre was not originally included in America's long jump team.

The games were long drawn out. The events were not finished until long after eight o'clock. The athletes - complain of being compelled to remain in the field overlong awaiting the events.