WORLD RECORD JUMP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27569, 11 December 1950, Page 6

WORLD RECORD JUMP

Yvette Williams Again SENSATIONAL EFFORT AT BALCLUTHA Yvette Williams, the Empire Games Women’s Broad Jump champion, caused a sensation when she equalled the_ world record for the Women's 13road Jump by leaping 20ft 6in at a coaching demonstration meeting held at Balclutha on Saturday afternoon by the Otago Track and Field Coaching Panel. Miss Williams was one of several members of the panel who were assisting South Otago athletes by giving demonstrations, and prior to her remarkable jump, she had demonstrated with the shot and discus and had demonstrated limbering-up exercises.

Before the champion’s Broad Jump demonstration, members of the Coaching Panel, under the direction of the past president, Mr J. C. Bellwood, placed flags alongside the pit to mark the New Zealand record distance and the world record, mainly for the interest of the onlooking athletes and members of the public. Miss William's first jump was actually a “ no-jump ” —she was three inches over the board—but the members of the panel sensed that she was jumping as*never before and though there was no possibility of gaining

recognition of a performance at a purely coaching demonstration, they decided to measure Miss Williams's next two jumps. . , . , Her second jump was 20ft 3in, which was well in excess of her own New Zealand record of 19ft 4 5-Bin estabished at the Empire Games in Auckland last season. With her third jump Miss Williams registered a distance of 20ft 6in, equal to the world record established by the famous Olympic champion, Fanny Blankers-Koen, of Holland, in 1943. Until Miss Williams set her new figures Of 19ft 4 5-Bin at Auckland, the Empire Games record of 19ft 0 Jin was held by Decima Norman, of Australia, who jumped this distance at the Sydney Games in 1938. Miss Williams was favoured on Saturday by a following wind, although the site where the event was held was fairly well sheltered, and she had to contend with a very rough run-up. The distance was measured by Mr Bellwood and Mr J. H. Borland, the New Zealand High Jump champion and Empire Games representative, both recognised officials. The performance accomplished by Miss Williams on Saturday indicates that there is every possibility of her establishing a new world record for the Broad Jump if the conditions are favourable when she competes at the Canterbury Centennial Games at the end of the month. 'At the present time she holds the New Zealand record for the Shot Putt as well as the Broad Jump, her figures for the former event being 37ft 10Jin, although recently she has been credited with better. She is the holder of New Zealand championships -for the Broad Jump, Shot Putt and Javelin Throwing, and her coaches, Mr and Mrs J. C. Bellwood are hopeful that she will establish a new Dominion record for the Discus Throw this season, as she is approximating record figures in training. Potentially, they believe, her prospects in this event are as good as they are for the Broad Jump.