ATHLETICS AND ATHLETES

NZ Truth, Issue 889, 9 December 1922, Page 9

ATHLETICS AND ATHLETES

Caming of the Americans

The Third Man.

Some Great Performances.

(By "LAD AS.") n.

The third man of the American team whose selection was announced after this page wont to press last week! is C. G.* Krogness, of Harvard University and the Chicago Athletic Association. My records do not show him as an active competitor m important contests during the spring and summer of 1922, but m 1921 his hurdle performances entitled him to rank second to Earl Thomson among American hurdlers. That is to say, one of the world's best three or four, and from a match point of view a more suitable opponent for Harry Wilson than Thomson, who stands right out by himself as the greatest hurdler of this or any other time. Krogness waa second to Thomson m the American National 120 yds hurdles m IB sec; second to Thomson also m the intercollegiate championship m 14 4/ssec, beating Harold Barron, whfc was runner-up to Thomson at the last Olympic Games. Important wins recorded by Krogness included the Central Association 120 yds hurdles championship at Chicago, the same event at the Pacific Coast championships m 15 3/68 ec, and at the International University contest between CttclordOambridge and Harvard* Yale, his time being 15 2/6 sec. He la aIBO a very fine broad jumper, ha vine been placed m several championships (his best effort was 22ft 6 6/Bin) and a high Jdiupur with several 6ft performances to his credit. In appearance Krogness is tall and fail* — more of the build of Gerald Keddell than Harry Wilson. It is to be hoped that when he and Wilson meet it will be m a match and not a handicap with a lot of indifferent performers on long marks. . i Editorial thunder compels me this week to keep within strict space limits. I cannot m the present article gb into the question of how the American athlete has arrived at his PRESENT PI^CH OP PERFECTION. I must bo content with indicating by reference to the record book m general and to this year's performances m particular how high that standard is, how many American champions there are, and how even the American standards are steadily getting better. In the following summaries, the figures given are taken from the results of no more than half a dozen Eastern meetings, with one exception (the national championships) being University fixtures. Sprints: Every world's sprinting record recognised by the International Amateur Athletic Federation is held by an American. Paddock is the greatest of the present-day cracks, but he is extended m almost all of his races. There is a host of even timers m America to-day. Leconoy, of Lafayette University, has broken evens on more than one occasion this year. At the inter-collegiate championships he established a new 100 yds record of 9 7/10 sec and won the furlong m 21 8/10 sec Earlier he won a 100 yds at the Pennsylvania relay meeting In 9 4/ssec. At the American national championships he was beaten by the latest sensation, Bob Macallßter, a New York policeman, who won the hundred m lOsec. Leconey won the furlong m 22' l/6sec. Loriejoy, of Cornell, la another sprinter who has clocked 9 4/ssec this year Hayes, of Notre Dame, has done 9 7/lOsec. Paulu, of Grinnell, 9 9/lOsec. Kirksey. Murchtson and Woodring are three sprinters who all have victories over Paddock to their credit within the past two years. There are at least ten consistent even time -breakers. In California there is a. youngster named Sudden, a Stamford undergraduate, who is being boomed as Paddock's successor. The number of even timers for the season? I started to compile them but ga\e up tho job; there were too many. Quarter and h&lf-xnlleru: There 1b no Ted Meredith among present-day American quarter and half-milerd, but men of the calibre of the world's record holder (47 2-6seo and lmln 62 1/6 sec) appear but very occasionally. Still at the meetings under review there wore some SLASHING PERFORMANCES. The men who this year have beaten 50acc for tho quarter are: Wolters, 48soc; Driscoll (national and intercollegiate champion), 49% and 4D 9/10 sec; Stevenson (Princeton, who will be at Oxford next year as a Rhodes Scholar). 43 %aec and 49 9/lOscc; Cochran, 49 7/10soc; Ivopplsch, 49 9/lOscc There were three,outstanding half-miles by L.. A. Brown, of Pennsylvania, lmln 54»0c and lmln 65& sec. and Wolters, of Ames, lmln 55soc. Ono mile: In winning the American mllo championship for tho sixth year In succession Jole Ray recorded 4mln 17acc. M. L. SltlcklH, of Pennsylvania State won tho intercollegiate mllo In 4mln 18 2/ssec. There were numerous mile's cut out In Just over 4mln 20boc. 120 yds hurdles: The following hurdlor.s nt those meetings did 15 3/fisoc or better: Earl Thomson. lf>sce: KnolHn (Wlriconsiln). Issec; C. R. IJauora

(Harvard), 15 3/10gec; Bulger . (Colgate), 15 1/Bsec; Barron (Pehn. State) and Whitney (Harvard), 15..2/ssec; S. H. Thomson (Princeton), 15.3/6aec. Field events: 'Coming, to the field events at these half dozen meetings tho list of outstanding performances is ; , ABSOLUTELY BEWILDERING. The high jumpers m particular are beyond doubt the finest collection any country has been able to gather together at any time. Two years ago R ,W. Laridon; of Yale, created o new Olyiripia record. He Is still a grand jumper, but ls*overshadowed nowadays by (Juite a number of his own countrymen.. Just,, glance- through these efforts :H; Osbbrne, 6ft 6in, 6ft 6 l/81n, 6ft 5 1/I6in,. 6ft 2 5/Bin; D. V. Alberts fift-5 l/Bin; Le Roy Brown 6ft 4 5/Bin, $ft 3in, 6ft 2iri, 6ft lin; J. Murphy 6ft 5 l/16in, 6ft 2, 5/8 in ■-■• 6ft 2ln; Withernden, 6ft 6 l/10in; Muller 6ft 2 D/81n, 6f£ 2in. Others who cleared 6ft ot 6ft lin at these- meetings- are Landon, Nlcolte, McElven, Campbell, Wood, Treyer, Hoffman, Hampaon, and Sneeds. : • - . Broad jump: The three greatest broad jumpers m the wprld to-day are the, negros, -De Hart Hubb&rd — a nineteen-year-old discovery of. this season, who on successive days cleared 24ft 3 %m and 24ft 6 %m; Ned Gourdin, .of Harvard, holder cf the world's record of 25ft Sin and Sol Butler, who has cleared 24ft 91n. The first of the .whites is R,. Le Gendre, of Georgetown' :Univerßity, who, with Hubbard has this year 1 beaten ,24ft, his best being 24ft ?Bin, * The .better than 23ft , performances at these meetings were: "Goiirfliri, 28ft 11* 3/4ln; Butler, 23ft 7'6/Bin and 2?ft 8in;" L 6 Gendre, 23ft 7 Hin; Rose (Pennsylvania) 23ft 7 Hin,.23ft 4 JTMrn, 23ft % %ln; Muller, 23ft 8 , Kin} 7 Bradfey,\"23ft 3in. A second ; school boy — Dowding — cleared 23ft 81n. ■■■■■•■. ;■; ' . Pole vault: It 1b less than twenty years since 12ft was cleared for the first time m the pole vault. Nowadays i\ ia not ojten, beaten outside America, notwithstanding that the new- world's record,; 13ft 6. %m, is held by a Norwegian," Charles Hoff. Though the Yanks have lost the highest honor for the, time being they have by far the finest 'collection of vaulters and more than they themselves have had at any previous period. Two men, Knourek and Sparj'ow.f tied at 13ft m the national 'championships. In the intercollegiate' championships Norris won with 12ft '9inj' Gumlock, Libbey, and Black tieing with 12ft 6in for second. Gardner, :of Yale, won at the Perm relay meeting with 12ft 91h. The most remarkable pole vaulting of the year occurred .at ; the 'national collegiate gathering, at Chicago, no fewer than B,men clearing 12ft or more. Hop, step, and jump: This is rot a universal event m America. D« Hart Hubbard-wbn- the national championships with 48ft 1 %Iri, a fine effort. There is no doubt that the world s best to-day is the New South Welshman, A. W, Winter. 161 b shot: Ralph Rose is dead; Pat McDonald, 1 his greatest rival Is on the wane, though, he won the national 'championships again this year with 46ft 11 7/ Bin. Their successors are all colts and , A WONDERFUL LOT they are too.. At the 'Varsity championships the boy wonder from Stanford — Glenn. Hartrauft — won with 48ft 6 Kin; Merchant second with 44 10 V 4 In, Webber third with 44ft 8 8/Bln, and Brown fourth with 44ft 7 l/41n. In the national championships Hills was second to McDonald with 46ft 7 l/41n, Wanzor third with 46ft 1 l/3in, and Houser fourth with 45ft 4 l/Bin. A high school boy, "Bud" Houser, of Oxner, California, tossed the 121 b shot 56ft. only lft Bin short of Ralph Rose's world's record Hartrauft will surely break Rose's 161 b shot record of 61ft, within the next year or two. In California this year he did 60ft This from a boy of nineteen. 161 b hammer: Burly Jack McHolm holds the Australasian record with 147 ft 6 ftin. In America nothing less than 160 ft is considered to be class throwing. In this year's 'Varsity championships Merchant won with 17ift 2ln, Brown was second with 159 ft Bin, Baker 1 third with 166 ft 11 l/41u, Tootal fourth with 150 ft. M. J. Me Grath won tho national with 156 ft 91n, the world's record holder, Ryun not competing. They are both past their prime, but the 'Varsity colto are %Vorthy successors. Discus and Javelin: Tho Finns by some natural aptitude are tho world's greatest discus throwers, though tho world's record for the former -is toeld by an American (Duncan. 156 ft; The Americans by study of Finnish methods und sheer determination to excel have reached a wonderfully high allVound standard lri both. This year a secondary achooi boy named Shlvelly (of . Paris, Illinois) hurled tho discus 141 ft Uin. The beat throw at tho meetings with which this article deals was 147tt 81n, by Liob, of Notro Dame. A. R. Pope won tho national with 145 ft, lllu. Houser did 141 ft G %ln. ami Hartrauft won the 'Varsity heat with HOft 1/Sln (ho has dono bolter m California). Tho throws between 130 ft and 140 ft wero losrlon. Not oven tho Americans can equal tho Finns with the Juvelln, but they aro n good second. Tho standard is improving evor> your. Two men at these meetings did bettor than 200 ft for the first ■ time In the States — Angler with 202 ft 9'^ln and H oilman with ZO'ltt 31n. Men v/ho beat ISOft wore Broudcr (185 ft 8 5/Sln). korrontl (185 ft 7% in). Hammer, national champion (133 ft 2ft m), Angior (196 ft llln), Huffman (194 ft). At least thirty men are capable of 170 ft. In a later article I shall give some HAIR-RAISING all-round performances by presentday Americans. A groat point la made oC Y&nkeo specialisation, both

when deplorii.cr the all-round attempt* ot aomo of our own mnn. and al9o when accounting for our defeats m individual ra< >a. It la true that the Amorlcanß do speclallso m that they find out wha thoir bent oventa are and stick to them. But at tho Btimo time, it a man shows all-round talent of a hiah order he 1« riven every encouragement.