ATHLETIC NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 4

ATHLETIC NOTES.

By AiIATETTE.

PROGRAMME OF AMERICAN ATHLETES. January 16, Auckland; 22, Masterton; 29, Gisborne. . February 3, Hawera; 10, Levin; 13, Wellington; 17, Ashburton: 20, Dunedin; 24, Invercargill; 27, Christchurch.. March 3, Masterton; G, Wellington; 10, Rotorua; 13, Auckland. INDIAN SCHOOL ATHLETICS. At the third annual European interschool athletic championships, held at the Calcutta Football Ground early in the month, no fewer than 12 school records were broken, whilst two others were equalled. In J. Anthony, St. Xavier’s must have a smart sprinter, as he won “the under 18 years’’ 100 yards in 10 l-ssec, and 440 yards in 53 2-osec. F. Russell, of the same school, captured the 120 yards hurdles (under 18 years) in 16 2-ssec, which is smart travelling. A northern writer says that with the fair summer that has been experienced in Auckland the Domain track should be in fine trim for the first performance of the famous American athletes there. The Domain is the only ground on which the visitors will appear where a straight 220 yards can he run. It would be an ex"ceptionally interesting event for the Auckland public to see Scholz performing over a straight 220 yards, as this would give him a chance to attack the Australian and New- Zealand record, which should not be beyond his powers, provided the conditions are suitable. It is regrettable that. Hahn is not likely to clash with Rose over a two or three-mile race. The American is straightout a half-mile and a mile runner. However, if Rose trains consistently and is intent on upholding his reputation—and there : s every reason to believe that he ?s—Hahn will find difficulty in coping with our champion in mile runs. In view of the way Campbell, Mitchell, Laing, and others have been running half-mile races this season, the visitor will have some very strong competition here.

One distance that seems doomed to receive a new record is the 100 yards, for which Whyte (Victoria) established the record last year under somewhat fortunate circumstances. Hahn should have no difficulty in improving on Whyte’s performance. M. Leadbetter, the Wellington sprint champion, put up a remarkable performance in the 300 yards Canterbury championship at the Halswell sports meeting. He raced away from his field and finished up three yards in front of Charlie Taylor in 30 3-osec. This time is rather sensational if the track was right. The local officials vouched for its accuracy. Leadbetter is evidently in great form, despite the fact that Wellington reports stated that he had broken down.

At the professional championships held hero at Christmas time E. T. Brown put up a fine performance in the mile handicap. Giving away starts up to 155 yards and running with bare feet, he won by a street in 4min 33 l-ssec. The race went to show that Brown will be right at the top of his form by the time the championships are on. Rangy and rather awkward in style, A. E. Laing is C. H. Taylor’s successor as the champion quarter and half-miler in amateur athletics in Canterbury, says a northern writer. With coaching he should improve, for ho is a strong runner and he has tenacity of purpose. His pluck was manifest at an evening meeting recently, when he won a 440 yards race from scratch in 63sec. He is the outstanding figure ia the sport in Canterbury. J. H. Nalder, though he did not seem in the best of condition, won the Canterbury two-mile championship as he pleased, and he maintained such a pace that only S. J. Goodsoil, of Ashburton, followed him I home. Nalder should he striking form round about the date the championships are held.