N.Z. CHAMPION SPRINTER IN WORLD CLASS

Chronicle (Levin), 28 September 1946, Page 6

N.Z. CHAMPION SPRINTER IN WORLD CLASS

Thc New Zealand Aniateur Athletic Assoeiatiou 's reccnt reeognition, after ;i delay of several months, of lion Agate's performanee in equalling the national 10U yards record of 9 4-5sec., pluces the Aueklander in a selcct coterie of four ollier Xew Zealand sprinters who have officially hroken evens for the 1(10 yards: J. H. Hempton at Christchurch in 1002, Malcolm Leadbettcr in L927, Alan Eliott (twice) in 1902 and 1!).".:; at Auckland, and W. J. Fitzsimmons at Xapier in 1937. The brilliant Auckland sprinter rccorded his record-equalling performanee at the Auckland provincial cliampioiiships at llie Olympic Stadium, Newmarket, in February, wlien he broke evens in both his heat and the iinal, a feat that has only once before been accomplished in New Zealand in the same afternoon, the Ameriean, George .Simpson, "the Oliio Buckeye Bullet," ])erforming it at Ihe Auckland Domuin in 1931. Agate's times compare very favourably with times registered by world antl Empire champions. Holmes/ of Kngland, won the last Empire Games 100 in 9 7-10soe. on grass, wliieh is equal to 9 3-5seo. or better on einders. Agate's 9 4-5see. is only oue yard outside Holmes' effort, and two yards beyond the world effort for grass, established by the Australian, J. Carlton. "The Htiman Black Bullet" The world record of 9 2-5sec. set on einders is held jointlv by the- Ameriean, Jesse Owens ("the liuman black bullet"), and Frank Wykoff'. Agate's time is only four yards outside tliis. Should the Empire Games be resumed soon aud the perfectly-proportioned sprinter retaiu his form, Agate would probably attain Empire honours, although the Trinidad sprinter, J, Macdonald Bailey, has broken evens six times this season in Britain.