AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 463, 23 March 1909, Page 7

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

» ; WOODGER'S FINE PERFORMANCE. THE BRISBANE MEETING. ,1 [BI lII.BCIIAFn.—SrECIAI. d>R»RSl'n.vni!N-T.; Durisd'n, March 22. "Amateur," ill the "Times," in his ivotes on the Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting, says: Tho bright particular star of the meeting was undoubtedly the young, trimly-built Wellington sprinter, Woodgcr. Lithe, long limbed, clean cut, tho very model of a runner, Wo'odger, with his pretty achioh and marvellous pace, created n murmur o£ admiration as he made his first appearance in the preliminary heat of the championship "hundred." The murmur increased to a distinct roll of applause as the Wellington flier swept away with tho ease and grace of an antelope, and won his heat easing up in 10 l-ssec. Had Woodger- been extended, he could have easily lopped the fraction off . his . time, and there are some who say lie could break lOsec. Woodger is wonderfully fast both off the mark and on the journey. While I believe that Woodger is capable of breaking lOsec., that is,- taking his Saturday's running and the stato of the track into consideration, 1 almost hesitate, to make .the statement less it is thought that I have been carried away. Well, I have never seen a sprinter in New Zealand (and I have seen them all within the last fifteen years) who showed more real pace unextended, and who had a bettor chance of breaking lOsec. than tho flier. It has been said by those who are alleged to know that there is not a man in New Zealand capable of honestly doing 10 sec. for the hundred. This is a sweeping statement, and I am open to challenge it 011 behalf of my own unbiased opinion about Woodger. . I will say this, if there is a runner to-day in New Zealand who has a better chance of doing- lOsec., that runner is the young gentleman from' Wellington." "The result of the Athletic Conference," says the writer in the "Star," "which has been tho means of healing the breach in amateur athletic circles, will be received with much satisfaction throughout New Zealand and Australia. The result is a-tri-umph for the Wellington, Otago, and Southland ccntres,. the delegates of which ccntres were prepared to.abrde by the decision of tho majority of the delegates representing the'clubs affiliated to tho association." The same, writer suggests the following team for Brisbane:—loo and 220 yd- Woodger (Wellington). Half mile and mile Hat: Haskins (Canterbury). Pole vault: M'Kay r (Wellington). jump: Orbell (Canterbury)., Three mile run?: Dickson (Canterbury). Walks: Korr (Wellington). 440vds.' Hurdles: Murray (Canterbury). Throwing 161b. hammer: Wallaco (Auckland). The only Otago man whose claims are deserving of consideration is Keddell for the broad jump and '120 yds. hurdles.