SMOLZ AND HAHN ON VIEW

NZ Truth, Issue 1052, 21 January 1926, Page 15

SMOLZ AND HAHN ON VIEW

How American Invaders Fared In First Dominion Contests GATHERING OF A THLETIC CLANS

(By "Starter.".)

In his first New Zealand race Scholz won the 220 yds. m 22secsdead. The record is 21 4-ssecs. and it must be shivering m anticipation of the time when Scholz reaches top form. The handicapper was too hard on Hahn, who 'would have had to break records to win. He missed, but only by a hair's breadth.

JACKSON SCHOLZ signalized, his J first appearance on a New Zealand Vtrack by cutting out the 220 yds handicap at Hamilton m 22secs— jiist 2-sse'c outside the Australian and New Zealand record, and l-ssec away from Ayres-Oosterlaak's New Zealand recordL This was in.d.eed a wonderful run, and is but a forerunner of what this athlete will give us with a few races to put him into top. Scholz was messed -up m his- heat of the 100 yds through the other runners getting a break on the pistol. This habit is unheard of m firstclass .company m America, but is unfortunately all too prevalent m certain centres of the Dominion. i It is extremely disconcerting to* 1 a runner who is used to running to the pistol to find the men going off at the word "Set."This is a. point that starters m other centres must give attention to, as no New Zealander is /desirous of having it said that the visitors are not getting a fair run. HAHN'S GREAT RUN. The handicapper at Hamilton certainly flattered Hahn when, with the latter, a week off. 1 the boat, he was expected to shatter the existing New Zealand half-mile record m order to win. . This event was won' by W. Savidan from 45yds m lmin 57secs. Hahn was second. As the record stands at Imin 57; 4-se«cs, it can easily be seen what a great performance the visitor put up. It -•is little wonder that he did not win at this stage of the tour. Hahn also found the handicaps too much m the quarter- mile, which was cut, put m 49 3-ssecs. "The New Zealand record is 49 l-sseca and standard time is 52secs. THE WORLD'S GREATEST.

While we are entertaining Jackson 6chplz m our midst, it is particularly pleasing to receive word over, the cables that his 100 yds run of 9%secs

C.HR.IBTCHURCH EVENTS. The match race between D. McLennari, the New Zealand professional sprinter, and D. Brackenridge, of. West Australia, took. place at English Park, Christchurch, last week, but as generally predicted McLennan proved too solid a proposition for the visitor. • The first distance was. over 100 yards, but Mac won without exerting himself by over a yard m I*> 1/5. , r ' r :;,The second distance was over 75yds, but again McLennan won, quite unextended, by about the same distance, m 7 3/5. The Canterbury public would like a runner to come along to give Mac a good go, as they are anxious to see exactly what he can do. If the handicaps suit, the Taihape people will have the opportunity of seeing McLennan m action at their meeting on St. Patrick's Day. R. S. Thomson scored another success on Saturday night at the English Park stadium, when he won the 135 yds handicap by inches off B^yds. The time was 13secs, which was setting McLennan , a big task off two yards. He won hjs heat, however, m 13 3/5, and finished fourth m the final. It is D. Brackenridge's intention to settle m Christchurch for a time at least, and he has joined the string of runners trained by Claude Walden. He was not at his best when he met McLennan and is certain he can do a lot better. " •

at Greenboro' last May has been recognized by the American Athletic Union as a world's record for the distance. Coupled I with his six wins and one dead -,heat out of ten starts with Chas. Paddock, this latest recognition of. Scholz's greatne s s definitely clisooses of Paddock's claim to

be the world's champion, sprinter. . __ ' The previous world's record . was 9 3-ssecs, which has\been established by Paddock on more than one occa--sion. ' - ....... Scholz's superiority, however, .began to manifest itself at the Paris Olympiad, when he disposed of the flying; Calif ornian m Olympic record time m the 200 .metres: and also; headed him m the 100 metres. "The -next appearance of the American is at the Auckland fc>6mairi on Saturday. There Scholz should be tried out by the Aucklan.d. provincial champion, Williams, who has been putting up some splendid performances over the 100 yds and 220 yds distances. The meeting of this pair should provide something worth watching. NEWTON AGAIN. Fresh from his South Island victories, H. E. Newton, the Wanganui runner, again demonstrated .jhis prowess at Wellington last Saturday by winning the ihalf -mile from 10yds m the clinking time of -2min 0 4-ssecs. He also ran a good race m the auarter-mile, finishing "The winner registered 51 3-ssecs from the, 30yds mark. . Newton will run again m the Wellington provincial championships on January ' 30, and his form, indicates that ;he will give Campbell and Mitchell" 1 something to think about. TRACY RETIRES. That consistent performer on New Zealand tracks, ~L. A. Tracy, has definitely announced ihi| retirement. He has : been running ■ stodgily this season, and finished Hip with, a very Indifferent- performance at a recent Gisborne meet. V Tracy Is a comparatively young athlete, but he has been : running for a long time. There com^s a period m .the careers of all athletes when no amount of striving and training can get them into form. ■ This seems to be the trouble with Tracy. He carries with him not a few championships and some- records. Coincident with the retirement of Tracy comes news that C. H. Taylor, of Christchurch;.' who has bad many contests on .the track with Tracy, has successfully staged a "come-back" and is showing a : great degree of his old-time, form. Taylor will always hold a warm spot m the hearts of sporting followers for 'his great performances against the 1922 team of Springboks. If he gets right back to form, the Christchurch public should see ; a great contest when he crosses swords with Hahn. CRACKS AMISS. Many of the cracks were off form at -the Wellington meeting last Saturday.- . Kyle has had a touch of influenza and lacked his usual finish. Paris failed to show up m the furlong, but made amends with an inspiring quarter mile m the relay ra ce. . Flett, the cyclist, has also been suffering from influenza, and did not finish m his sole start. Leadbetter ran an indifferent furlong, and was limping slightly after it, and Mitchell gave; the. impression of staleness m the halfmile. The only one of the back-markers to show up was Jenkins, who ran strongly into second place m the furlong final. All hands, however, are now settling down for fast work with the provincial championships m view on January 30. ■■■-.■; There should be some powerful running on that day. %