MARATHON RUNNERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 9

MARATHON RUNNERS

JAPANESE CHAMPIONS PACIFIC ZONE MEETING ..BRISBANE, Jan. 18 Mr. S. J. Gudsell, of Auckland, who arrived in Brisbane yesterday after a business visit to Japan, said that Japanese athletes were eager to meet Australians and New Zealanders, and they were preparing for a Pacific zone athletic meeting. Marathon running had captured the imagination of the Japanese. He had met sis marathon runners who had broken world's records. Mr. S. J. Gudsell, former walking champion of Auckland, is> chairman of the harrier sub-committee of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Gentry. He has been on a business trip during which he has made inquiries concerning athletics in other countries. A cablegram from Tokio on December 16 stated: —"Japanese athletic authorities state that as a result of conversations with Mr. S. J. Gudsell, of Auckland, it is now tentatively proposed that japan will be invited as a guest participant in the Empire meeting at Sydney in 1937. Japanese athletes will also tour New Zealand after that meeting, and in 1933 Australia and New Zealand will be invited to return as <niest participants in the Far Eastern Olvmpiad at Tokio. At the latter meetin"- it is hoped that the Australian and New Zealand representatives will be authorised to participate in the forniation of a Pacific sports organisation, with biennial or. quadrennial, meetings.