PACE THRILLS

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 12

PACE THRILLS

At The Shrine of Athleticus

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.)

The Australian and New Zealand Athletic Championships demon-

trated two things: That such inter-

State tension must bring the cream

of Olympic talent to the top and

that both Australia and New Zea-

land can boast material very cose to the world's best.

THEORY begets performance and when this brilliant array of talent got going at Athletic Park on Monday and Tuesday, they administered the lie direct to gloomy forecasters of the fate of athletics in this country.

What, with S. A. Lay sending his javelin flying through the air like a knight of old, to fall a mere four inches off the word's record; the New South Welshman, C. M. Ebert taking a mighty broad jump to shatter the New Zealand record; and the brilliant, calm and steady run try our marvellous stayer, Randolph Rose, in the mile, it might be said that 'here alone was proof of what was about in potential world-beating material. \ GREAT HUNDRED Eut the fare on both days was equally as brilliant. A wonderful hundred yards — wonderful for many reasons — was witnessed when J. Carlton, the wonder youth from N.S.W. beat Leadbetter and Parker (Queensland), equal to it. Considering the fact that a gale-strength wind faced them in the open, the time, 10 1-5, suggested records under better conditions. , Likewise in the 120yds. hurdles, R. W. Lander (N.Z.) took the honors from E. H. Scott (N.S.W.) but it was the closest thing in the world. None but a close watcher could discern the winner and there were hundreds of people jvho s=«:lared that it was undoubtedly a dead heat.. The pole vault saw E. Keskinen '(Queensland) make a strong bid to lower the New Zealand record after snatching the championship by brilliant vaulting. It seems useless to particularize when the second day produced such' a welter of merit. The Victorian jumper, E. M. Davidson upset both Australian and New Zealand standards by clearing 6ft. 2%ins. ' SUPERIOR Then again, J. W. Shirley bettered his own New Zealand record hop, step and jump, which he extended by over three inches. In the 440yds. hurdles, F. S. Ramson and F. Nesdale dead-heated in time inside the New Zealand record. New Zealand's own Peter Munro had the putting the shot pretty well to himself. The Decathlon series will be mentioned in the next issue of "Truth."