ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 999, 29 April 1909, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

THE WORLD’S GREATEST ATHLETE.

AN AMERICAN TRAINER’S OPINION.

“ Every generation,” says Mike Murphy, the famous Pennsylvania trainer, “ has seen the development of a wonderful' track athlete and competent judges have been at loggerheads as to who was the greatest of them all. In my career as a trainer of athletic teams and athletics I have met and known hundreds of stars of the cinder path, and for me to pick the greatest, which at first glance would seem a hard proposition, is made much easier than an analysis is made of the records of the past and present track men.

•• There have been Sheridans, Grants, Tewsburys, Garrels, Gilberts, Drays, Hillmans, Flannigans and Roses, but none of these men in my estimation class with one youngster whom I trained for four years, and who, in every athletic competition was always at the top. “ During my training period at the University of Pennsylvania, before severing my relations there to go to Yale, there came to me one day from Wisconsin a tall, beautifully proportioned, light haired boy who had a reputation in that section as a hurdler. This man was Alvin C. Kraenzlein, the man I select as the greatest athlete I ever knew.

“ Not only was he a great hurdler, but an athlete in every sense of the word. He could play baseball, football —in fact, would have been a star at any game in which he participated, but during his career at the Universty of Pennsylvana he did nothing but track work.

“It was on my recommendation that he decided to abandon all other branches of sport and stick to that track squad, owing to the fact that I did not want him injured, he being my most valuable asset in the intercollegiate championship. Never have I seen or traned an athlete who was as tractable as was Kraenzlein. He was always in condition, had no bad habits, and ready and willing at any

time to do all in his power to land a victory for his team. “He ranked head and shoulders above any man the college world has ever produced in track sports and won more prizes and points for his alma mater than any man who has ever competed in the intercollegiate world.”

MARATHON RACES CONDEMNED.

Writing of the Marathon craze one American writer states: —A glance at what former Marathon heroes have done is sufficient proof of the statement that Marathon running is now in a precarious condition. Shering, the vinner of the Marathon at Athens in 90 6, deserted the amateur ranks in order to accept a large gift of money as a testimonial from his Canadian friends. Lorando, the Italian hero of the 1908 Olympiad, virtually became a professional the day after he had the honor to stagger first into the great stadium. He was followed into professional ranks by John Hayes, the American, who was later adjudged the winner. Then Tom Loingboat, the famous Canadian Indian, the winner of innumerable Marathons in this country and Canada, succumbed to the temptation. He was followed by Simpson, also a Canadian Indian, who finished well toward the front in the London Marathon. Now it is reported that Syanberg, the Swede who finished fifth, has decided to abandon the amateur ranks. . . .

How to prevent the mercenary debasement of this race is the problem that the Olympic council must solve. It is evident that no rules can be devised to check the evil, and it is doubtful if sentiment would be strong enough to have any influence on the athletes when com rented by the temptation. If the members of this council could be induced to drop the event, the evil complained of would be at an end, but since this country ,’s the centre of the Marathon professionalism. it is doubtful if the foreign delegates would see the evil as it is see i in this country. Another ev.l of almost equal magnitude is the spread of the Marthon craze among the boys and young men of the country. It is extremely doubtful if half the men and boys now training lor these runs are fitted either by nature or training to compete in them. An inexperienced man has no business in taking up Marathon running without the advice of an experienced trainer. What makes the danger the more acute is that many of these runs are promoted by individuals or organizations, and for the sole purpose of advertising themselves. The benefits to be derived by the athletes is either secondary or not considered at all. In some cases hundreds of young boys are running distances of from 10 to 15 miles. Mr. C. Murphy, the famous coach of the American team, and who probably knows more about the evil effects of this sort of athletic dissipation than any other living trainer, is very bitter against this sort of thing. In discussing the subject with the writer he declared emphatically that five miles was the limit that any school or college boy should run unless he were able to devote his entire attention to it.

AUCKLAND HARRIERS’ CLUB OPENING.

The Auckland Harriers’ Club held their opening run on Saturday, a good number of enthusiasts taking part in the afternoon’s spin. It was intended to hold a paper chase, but owing to nori-arrival of the bags and paper this was abandoned. A run was then decided upon, the route covered being from the Domain to Orakei and back again, via Ayr-street and Beach Road, Remuera. Very good headway was made by the runners considering that this was their first gathering, and the movement gives promise of becoming exceedingly popular among long-dis-tance athletes- Next Saturday the club will hold another run, which it is anticipated will be largely attended.

R. E. Walker, the South African sprinter, interviewed by Reuter’s representative, stated that he would sail for England on April 2 9. He will meet Kerr, the Canadian champion, in the English Championships at Stamford Bridge on July 3, and will then proceed to America and Canada, where he will meet Rector and many other American sprinters. He will race Kerr again in Canada. Walker is confident that he will beat all his opponents, declaring that he has improved his time since the Olympic Games. After leaving Canada he will visit Australia, and will possibly settle in England. He is determined to remain an amateur. —London “ Sportsman.”

The Australian Athletic Championship meeting will be held at Brisbane on August 18 and 21.

In the six day’s team race concluded at New York on March 13 the winners were Cibot and Orphee, representing France. They won by 13 miles and 1 lap, covering 73 2 miles 6 laps in the six days.

Says an American file. The Records Committee of the Irish Amateur Athletic Association have passed the following records: 161 b. hammer, 9it. circle, 4ft. handle, both hands —179 ft. 10in-, at Queenstown, August 13, by John Flanagan; 561 b. for height—16ft. 2in„ by Con. Walsh, August 13, at Queenstown.