ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 14

ATHLETICS.

4 ____ ;■ PHENOMENAL HIGH JUMP KECOBD.

CfBOM OTTR OWN* COBKESPOM-ENT.) SAN FRAN-ISCO, May 10." There seems to bo eomet-iing in tho air of California conducive to high jumping. Sinoe -lay 18th, 19i2, the words reco.d iot the running high jump was he.d by George Horine a Caliiornian, and a student at the Lei and Stanford University. A urcek ago yesterday, it *ras taken from .him, but stiti is held by a Californian. The new champion is Dr. Edward lieescn, a young '-.an Francisco dentist, and member of the O.ympic Club, who cleared . tho phenomenal height of 6ft 7 5-16 th in. This is a fraction of an inch better than Horine _ best mark, the lattcr'a world record having been exactly 6ft Tin. Whi-o Bceson's great jump was in ajecordance with the rules of the American Amateur Union, all the conditions are being carefully scrutinised by the officials of that body before ho is officially acclaimed the world'a champion. In making the jump, he struck the- croEs bar and fell prone in the heap of fawdust. The bar •wobbled up and' down, but remained on the pegs. The height was not measured immediately. Later, it was found to measure 6ft 7 5-Btb in. Still later, a difference was found between the distance to tho crossbar from the place of measurement and the spot of Beeson'a tako off. The spirit level was brought into use, and the final decision of the officials was announced at 6ft 7 5-16 th in. Horine, the then champion, waa a competitor in tho event, which was in connexion with the fifth annual Pacific Coast amateur meet. After both had cloared 6ft, the bar was raised to 6ft Sin, at which mark both failed. Then lieeson cleared the bar at the new record mark, a feat which proved beyond Horine. There has been some discussion ss to whether a words record should be admitted when the bar ia {■truck. However, Horine won the title in 1912 in much the samo way, touching the bar. It is not unlikely that a in the rules will be made by the American Amateur Union in this resnect to g.vern future record?. In other words, for a jumper to take the record away from Beef on it wilt be necessary to clear better than Cft 7 5-16.h - in. without touching the bar.