AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18807, 20 February 1931, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

RECORD BREAKING AX WANGANUI. DON EVANS DEFEATS KISER. By Telegraph—Press Association WANGANUI, February 19. Not since the national athletic championships has there been such enthusiasm at Cook’s Gardens as that shown to-night, when Don Evans beat Rufus Kiser, the visiting American, by close on twenty yards in the half-mile, to break the New Zealand and Australian record for the distar, e by two seconds. Evans ran his own race, lying last until about three hundred yards from the finish, when he stayed a phenomenal run to gain the lead on the last curve. The crowd fully appreciated the performances of the American visitors, Harlow Rothert in the shot put, long jump, and broad jump; Rufus Kiser in the half mile; and George Simpson in 100 and 200 yards. At the start of the record-making half mile, Kiser, running off scratch with Evans, set a fast clip. Evans was not to be bustled. He ran steadily, his tremendous stride covering the ground with the case of a tuned machine. At the first curve, about 80 yards from the start, the American was leading Evans by 25 yards. On entering the straight Kiser had the field in hand, and a few yards later was in ,the lead. Evans still running his own race the distance between the two principal men having been increased. There was a big gap between Evans and the last of the others. At the end of the first quarter Evans was about two chains behind the American. When Kiser entered the back straight Evans saw him left slightly. Straight away he opened up, and brought the crowd to its feet. He began to overhaul the leader rapidly in that straight, and he passed the whole field. Leaving the last curve Evans had established a ten yards on Kiser, and the twentyone year old Taihape boy straightened up from the curve to increase his lead and score a smashing win. It was announced that the time was lmin 54 4-5 sec, thus beating the present record put up by Lloyd Hahn, the American, at Hawera, by two seconds. Kiser also beat the New Zealand and Australian records for the distance. Kiser’s first lap was run in 54sec. Evans intended to run the same lap in 58sec. In the 220 yards, George Simpson bettered the Australasian record by 2-5 sec. He left the mark with his characteristic bullet-like start, and passed the field on the curve to lead into the straight by a yard. M. Strange, of Palmerston North, off five yards, was hanging on grimly, and up the straight he lost only a yard. The American received an ovation when the time 21 2-ssec, was announced.

In the hundred, Simpson started in the final to win in 9 4-ssec.

Rothert, in an exhibition shot put, following his win in the event with 49 feet, bettered his previous best in the Dominion by 2*in, with 50ft 62<in. He won the high jump from scratch, jumping sft s£in. Immediately the meeting concluded the three Americans left for Wellington.