SPRINT RUNNING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 36, 27 September 1911, Page 3

SPRINT RUNNING.

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Jack Donaldson's performance on Saturday in running i3!\ds in 12 stvonds was a marvellous one (says “Victor” in the Wanganui 1 Herald ')■ Quito apart I'rom tlie wondoii'd time recorded the fact that lie heat such a brilliant sprinter as E. Holway, the American crack, b\ three y-.n-d« over the distance, was sufficient to prove that the Victorian is a marvel. Eor some time past many good judges have claimed that Donaldson is the greatest runner of all time from 1.00 vards up to 410 yards; and while he was in South Africa lie was credited with times which some critics declared impossible. He met ,and defeated Holway there over 100 yards, iaud the time recorded was 9g, or a shade better than G yards under evens. Holway himself, though beaten, doubted the correctness of the time, and there was a lot of discussion over it. ' The Svdney critics took a hand and declared that something must have been wrong, either with the timing or the track. Now. we have Donaldson credited with running 130 yards in 10 yards under evens in Sydney, where special precautions were to have been taken to see that everything was in order, and the most export watch- j holders engaged. We 1 arc not told whether there was any wind behind the runners or' not, and it will life; interesting to see uie lull accounts Ojl the race when the Australian papers come to hand. if will ho rdmclnhercji that in some note's on the fwo men, last week 1 told ; lidw;' Donaldson was' running in great, form, and fuat ho had expressed hiiAself as confident of putting up a record ou the day. This he did, and the record will no doubt be accepted it the in on had no asistance from the wind. Those who proclaimed, the Victorian the greatest sprinter of all time, will now he more convinced than ever that they wore right. Certainly he is entitled to rank with the greatest, but, it is as well to remember some of the brilliant deeds of Harry Hutchens, thfe Juitney flyer, before acclaiming Donaldson the fastest man of all time. Hutchens ran 1311 yards in 1882 in equal to 8 yards : under evens. In those days the all-fours start was net known, and as this is csLimal.ccl to give a man an advantage of some two yards over the old style, it will Lv seen, if this estimate ii correct, t.;:.t Hutchens’ performance was equal to Donaldson’s.' T hem,: again, it is 0i.1., reasonable to suppose ituat L.ie m..ic up-to-date methods i of preparing a track in’these days would tell in favour of ithe Victorian,-hub oil the otiier hand, i it may he doubtful wT.ct.ier the ‘timing thirty yoiius .ago was so accurate;: as nowadays;-i There will lie some; too, .who will aim! claim that Gharltoi Samuels, the Australian aboriginal; i avas at least has ■ brilliant as Hutchens, and then there was McGarrigal; the Qucnshind crack of quarter of a century ago, -who was'-respon-sible for some wonderful deeds. Coin-ing-toMl'ater years, Arthur Postlo was clock'ec'l'to run 130 yards in 12 seconds in h I face at Kalgodrllc some throe yoard'"!igo, but the critics would not accept it. It will'' -Do ‘ interesting to learn what tljcy have to say about Donaldson’s record on Saturday. The 1 Holway party* were very confident, as their man 1 was showing remarkable form, and; was expected to run well up to world’s record time, Vliich he did, but was even then three yards behind the Australian. Some idea of the pace of the American may be gathered from the fact that a week or so ago, in a trial spin, he gave “Lockie” McLachlan, so well-known here, seven yards and a beating over 130 yards. So well was Holway shaping that many were backing him to beat “The Blue Streak,” but the later upheld his reputation, as he declared he would, and “made good” so far as the world’s record was concerned, as well. What many would like to see now would be a series of races over 75yds,■ 100yds, and 120yds between Arthur Postlo and Donaldson, Postle is, apparently, back to. his very..best form,, and over the distances named would keep even . Donaldson very busy. !