ATHLETICS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20173, 27 February 1931, Page 19

ATHLETICS.

CHAMPIONSHIPS AT s DUNEDIN. KEBN INTEREST SHOWN. (PB*B3 .. ASSOCIATION TXLBQRAM.) DUNEDIN, February 26. Interest in the New Zealand track and field athletic championships, which open tomorrow, is, n<jw at fever-heat, and prospects are for one of the most successful fixtures ever held.

The weather was wet during the week, hut has ,now Cleared. The Americans, with the exception ,of George Simpson, have been training every day, arid yesterday gave a demonstration at the Caledonian Ground to local athletes and secondary school boys.

Simpson has been resting' all the week and expects that the strained muscle in his thigh«will be well, enough to allow him to compete both on• Friday and on .Saturday. The team arrived last owning, but a notable absentee is Stan "Lay, the javelin thrower, who could not get away. / Randolph Hose will arrive this afternoon, also the Wellington and Canterbury teams. The Canterbury cyclists are already here, and have tried out the track. Auckland's sole representative is A. J. Elliott, who arrived last evening. Competition for the championship shield, so long ■ held by Wellington, promises to be much keener than usual. •. ■ - , A NEW. WORLD RECORD. (UNITED PBB6S ASSOCIATION—BT ELECTRIC (Received February 26th, 7.5 p.m.) . « NEW YORK, February 25. Percy Beard, of Alabama, set a new world/record in the 70 yards hurdles of 8.5 seconds at the National Amateur Athletic Union -meeting at Detroit.