LIMIT IN SPRINTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 841, 9 December 1929, Page 13

LIMIT IN SPRINTING

EAST RUNNING BY AMERICANS WORLD’S RECORD BROKEN What is the sprinting ability of an athlete? Once again some fast running by American athletes has brought up an interesting topic of discussion in which several men in that rarified atmosphere of the Californian coast have well beaten even time, official worlo's record (9 3-ssec) for the 100 yards having been accomplished with surprising frequency, while oven an improvement on this has been recorded. Up to the present, however, no new figures have been recognised, and it remains to be seen whether or not the authorities will be satisfied with the thoroughness of the performances. As usual, the critics in this country (says an English writer in “Reynolds”) have ridiculed the reports from across the Atlantic. But that is our habit. We take the view that certain things are impossible while our confreres in the United States look upon anything as possible and nothing, in athletics at any rate, beyond the power of human effort. That is where their men have excelled in every sport they have taken up: they possess the confidence and faith in themselves. What a wonderful example we had of this in our recent open golf championship. A PROPHECY Whenever sprinting ability is under review my mind always wanders back to the Olympic Games of 1912 at Stockholm, and the many occasions I was entertained with real argument on the sport by James Sullivan and Mike Murphy, the brains of American athletics, botli of whom ran their last race some years ago. As a trainer, Mike has probably never been equalled, and the close study he made of every movement of every athlete was remarkable. Often he emphatically declared that the time was not far distant when the century of yards would be covered in 9sec. That time has not yet arrived but wo are drawing near to it, though the little more speed—four yards or so to touch it means ever so much. The argument is that a man has travelled as fast on a downhill course, and the mere fact that his legs can move so rapidly under those conditions suggests that it should be within his scope to do so on a level course. After all, it is the quick action of picking np your feet and putting them down again, and I for one feel certain that Murphy’s prophecy will one day come true. A GREAT SPRINTER George Simpson, of Ohio University, has been reeling off 9 3-ssec regularly all the summer, and twice he has been credited with one-fifth better, but it is not known whether he utilised the new starting device which has been used in the States. This is an idea to improve a start, but although it cannot be regarded as a mechanical aid it is hardly likely to bo allowed for record purposes. It avoids making holes in the cinders. Instead a board is placed where the runner is to start from, and on this there are two raised blocks against which the feet are wedged, from which a strong push off may be secured. It is an ingenious method that could be used for starting practice, but there are many reasons why it should not be used in a race. There should not be any interference with the natural state of the track. Whether Simpson can get 9 2-ssec —four other Americans, Frank Wykoff and Charles Borah, both of whom have proved themselves to be great sprinters, and two newcomers, E. Tolan and W. Knox, have been credited with the figures—is a matter of conjecture I have before me a picture of Simpson winning one of his 9 3-ssec heats on the famous Franklin Field at Philadelphia at the annual Penn. Relays, where our own Varsity men have so often competed, and the easy manner of his passage through the tape suggests that he could have pulled out more speed, A DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT In passing it is interesting to note that something has happened in connection with sprinting that has brought the definite improvement. Tlio A.A.A. championships had been established 20 years before that famous North of England Rugby footballer Arthur Wharton, recorded a win in even time (lOsec) in 1886. This was not equalled until a player from Huddersfield, Charles Bradley, won the title in 1893, after which Arthur Duffey came from Georgetown, U.S.A.. to record four wins in succession in the time. I shall always regard Duffey's speed as flattering because of his j pistol-beating propensities, and the way this was tolerated until he got to Rochdale. George Patching, the genial South African, was the first to break even, in the championships in 1912, the year he ought to have been Olympic champion, but for the repeated breaking of his four American rivals in the final at Stockholm. It is noted that he was assisted by a strong wind, notwithstanding which it was a great run. In recent years these fast times have become common, which influences the opinion that, notwithstanding the scepticism that pre«?