ATHLETIC HONOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19832, 30 December 1927, Page 11

ATHLETIC HONOURS.

THE DECATHLON CONTEST.

QUEENSLANDER'S SUCCESS.

A FIRST-CLASS PERFORMANCE

[B¥ TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday.

With a score of 6400 points, the best record at Australian and New Zealand athletic games, E. Keskinen (Queensland) won the decathlon contest to-day. L G v Sutherland (New Zealand) was second with a score of 5900 points. With eight events completed Sutherland was leading by 5139 points to 5078, but Keskinen's victory in the javelin throw put him 83 points ahead In the 1500 metres event Sutherland, who had a sudden attack of illness yesterday, and struggled on gamely to-day,, found tho effort too much for him, and Keskinen won by over a minute.

Keskinen's performance was better than that of M. W. Kroger, of Victoria, in winning the decathlon at Brisbane last year with 6306 points, and is a much better effort in that it was made under infinitely worse conditions. Driving wind and rain made conditions very hard for the contestants at Athletic Park. The field in tho decathlon was reduced again by tho fact that W. Hunt (New South Wales), who had not expected to bo called on to compete in that event, had to leave for Wanganui. Walker (New South Wales) withdrew, and Sutherland and Keskinen had tho finish to themselves. Neither man showed anything like tho form which ho revealed when competing against Lay in the javelin throw championship. Keskinen threw 166 ft. to-day against 183 ft. 3in. on Tuesday, and Sutherland 148 ft. Ojin. against 173 ft. lOgin. earlier in the week. This win gave Keskinen a chance for the decathlon, and when the 1500 metres began he took it. Sutherland was done after a lap had been run, and was half a lap behind by the time that Keskinen had entered on his final round. Detailed results are:—

110 Metres Hurdles.—Sutherland (New Zealand), 18 l-ss; Keskinen (Queensland), 18 3-ss; Walker (New South Wales), 235. Throwing the Discus.—Keskinen, 131 ft. 6in.; Sutherland, 131 ft. l^in.; Walker, 51ft. 6in.

Pole Vault.—Keskinen, 10ft. 9in.; Sutherland, 10ft.

Throwing the Javelin. —Keskinen, 166 ft.; Sutherland, 148 ft. Ojin. 1500 Metres.—Keskinen, 4m 57 2-ss: Sutherland, 6m 4s.

Aggregate Points. —-E. ' Keskinen, 6433.78; E, G. Sutherland (New Zealand), 59421.60; A. .Walker (New South Wales), 2881.12.

AUSTRALIANS IN AUCKLAND,

MAY COMPETE NEXT WEEK. Six members of the New South Wales team which took part in the championship meeting of the Amateur Athletic Union of Australia and New Zealand, held in Wellington this week, are at present on a visit to Rotorua. They will arrive in Auckland next Wednesday and will leave for Sydney on Friday. The septet consists of E. H. Scott (hurdles), W. Hunt (sprints and middle distances), T. G. Melville (440 yds. flat and hurdles), R. D. Norman (440 yds. and 880 yds), A. Hodson, S. A. Mola and T, Norman. The first-named four are of championship class, R. D. Norman also being an Olympic representative. Before leaving the visitors would like to compete in Auckland next Thursday and although many of the local athletes are out of town a meeting of the Auckland Centre Emergency Committee will bo held to-day to discuss the position. Messrs. J. W. Shirley, A. J. Elliott and J. W. Savidan, who competed in the championship carnival in Wellington, will arrive in Auckland by tho limited express this morning. Mr. Richard Coombes, president and founder of the Amateur Athletic TJmon of Australia and New Zealand, will arrive from Wellington -by the ordinaty express this morning in order to catch the Uliniaroa for Sydney. Mr. E. S. Marks, honorary secretary to tho association, reached Auckland yesterday and is staying "at the Grand Hotel. He will await the arrival of a portion of the Australian team and will leave with it for Sydney by the Niagara next week. Mr. Marks, who is one of the bestknown sportsmen in Australia, represents North Sydney in the New South Wales Parliament. Away back in 1891 Mr. Marks was present at the memorable gathering on tho Auckland Domain whet the late W. T. Macpherson won the lOOvds, 250vds. (in world's record time. 24 3-ss) and 440 yds. championships.

KESKINEN'S intentions. EXPERIENCE IN DAIRYING. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. E. Keskinen, who represented Queensland at the Australian and New Zealand athletic championships, has m;ide arrangements to remain in hew Zealand for butter factory experience, before raturning to his native country, Finland, where he is a factory manager. He) proceeds to-night on a tour of the South Island, where he will compete at the Dunedin athletic meeting on January I.