ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

THE MAKING OP ATHLETES. AMERICAN WAY AND OURS. (Bv Mercuey.) Some American Stalwarts. The American correspondent of the "Referee" (ilr. W. W. Kaughton) includes in his usual letter an interesting review of the season's college athletics in the States. As it is in the colleges that the standard of American amateur athletics is set, the performances may be taken as indicative of present American form, and, as such, they 6peak eloquently of the nil-round excellence of the performers and their training systems. As is the custom, two "meets" were held at the close of tho season—tho InterCollegiate Athletic Association gathering, which caters for tho Eastern side scholastic institutions, and the Western Conference nieetiug, which embraces all tho colleges of the 3niddle States. Naturally, competition is very keen between East and West, and a comparison of thn performances leaves honours /airly oven. At both "tests" "evens'' was the rule rather than the exception, both in heats and finals of the 100 yards'. The best sprint performance, however, was registered in a 220 yards run by one Crain, of the University of Michigan. This runner was clocked to do 21 l-ssec., which equals B. J. Wefers's world's record. Against this, the West scores with a polevault record (alrea'dy commented upon in this column), but since then Scott, of Stanford "University, has excelled this jump, getting over no less than 12ft. 10 3-lCin. Both these performances are up before the Record Commission for consideration. Astounding Figures. At the conference "meet" the Easieru quarter-iniler, Davenport, of the University of Chicago, beat Wyinan, the pride of the West, over U0 yards in 48 4-ssec, and also on the same day he won the "half" in lmin. 5G 3-sseo.—two clinking performiinces. The mile at the Eastern meeting was won by Taylor, of Cornell, in 4min. 23 2-ssec, and, at the Western gathering, by Baker, of Oberlin College, in 4min. 20 4-ssec. This latter was a remarkable ract, as tni> winner and tno second nmn—Dohmen, of Wisconsin. University—ran shoulder to shoulder almost to the tape, both thus getting inside 4min. 21sec. In the West the broad jump won at 22ft. llin., and, in the East, at 22ft. TJin. The hurdle events times are not of much interest locally, us the "sticks" used are only 3 feet high, as against our 3ft. Gin., wherefore comparisons are useless. How Would Wβ Compare. When compared with New Zealand and Australian figures, these American students' performances appear almost unattainable. So much so, in fact, that one is almost inclined to doubt tho.figures. Certainly one is moved to ask the reason oi this standard of excellence, and its great superiority to ours. To the writer's mind the answer lies in two things— specialisation and coaching—especially ■coaching. In fact, perhaps this latter department includes the former. No American college coach would allow an athlete under his charge to do otherwise thnn specialise, and what the conch in these cases says "goes." The line between sprinting, middle distances, and distance running .is drawn absolutely hard and fast, and a runner is made to stick to his distance, and prepare for that, and that alone. • The selection of the track teams and the preparation of the men in the various sections is left entirely to the college coach. This individual is housed and paid a princely salary by his retaining cullege, and, in his department, is absolutely autocratic. The famous "Mike" Murph>, of Pennsylvania, is perhaps the best living example of this, nddition to tho ordinary teaching staff, and tho same "Hike" draws a. salary that many a New Zealand bank manager would envy. These coaches have reduced running ami fie!i! events and tho preparation therefor to an exact science. The Yankee Thoroughness.. Once a student "makes the track tenni ,- he, becomes the property of the coach body and soul; he eats at the "track table," ho is trained like a racehorse, and, for the time being, he is simply a running machine, worked by an expert. If tho machine develops faults, or does, not come up to expectations—does not "niuko good," in fact—another more amcnablb mid smoothcr-rimiiinK machine is sought for, and generally found, and that is 'all there is to it. . The result is that any talent that may exist is seized upon, and developed to its highest degree is left to chance, nothing will suit except the best and the only thing that counts is success. Th«.question aa to whether this success justifies tho means is another thing, t'vobnbly it does not—to our ideas. It allows no place for the man who indulges in athletics for fun, or for recreation, or because his friends do, or for the thousand and one reasons that our local men give up their time to athletics for. In tho American system mediocrity has no place. The champion is fostered at tho expenso of tho middle raters, and, after all, it is tho middle rater who keeps mir sport going. We like to honour oar champions, but we like to remember that it is the middle markers and the good old "also starteds" who turn out time alter time for the good of the game that luakn the champions possible. Moi cover/ wn feel that if the sport is doing any good at all to the community it is doing most good, not to the few champions, but to the many who indulge in the sport for the sport's sake only. So, while we can admire the splendid performances of - our American cousins, our feelings need not be those of envy only. Perhaps ours is the better part after all. In the opinion of some of our recent Californian visitors it is, inasmuch as under our system of club and oentre organisation every body who wishes to run can do so, whereas in America, broadly speaking, amateur athletics is confined to the schools and universities. Brooklyn Harriers' Steeplechase. For the second time this season the Brooklyn Harriers held a club race at the Hutt Park Racecourse last Saturday, under favourable conditions for racing. The event—a two mile and a half steeplechase—was decided over a boggy course, lying mainly to thn east of the park, and included in the obstacles were a number of fences and ditches. Additional variety was supplied by the Waiwetu Stream and its surrounding swampy ground. A field of twelve turned out, with C. Murray and R. Munro on the scratch* mark, giving away stare up to 95 seconds. For the first mile tho limit men practically maintained their advantage, but afterwards the heavy going caused them to come back fast until half a mile from home. F. Hodson (lOsec.) and C. Murray were in the lead. MurTay was shortly afterwarde put out of the running through the loss of a shoe, and fell back a few places, but Hodson had still to strain every nervt ii k ordei to keep his position, owing to strong challenges made by J. Don and R: Munro. The finishing post was reached first by Hcdson, who is evidently better suited by the shorter distance events than by tho more gruelling races of five miles and upwards. Close on his heels were Don and Munro, who made a good fight all the way. while tho close manner in which the rest of the field finished was a tribute to the judgment of their capabilities by the liandicappers, Messrs. AV. H. Philp and I'. A. Wilton. Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., the enthusiastic president of the club, judged the finish, and was kept busy in sortinij out the runners into their nroper finishing places. To-day the club combines with the Wellington Ilarriers in holding a run from Island Bay, and an effort is being made to muster every active member in ord-or to make a good showing by comparison with the older club. A Bushranginn Experience Thn Wellington Harriers touched lowwater mark last Saturday in the matter nf attendance at its club run. Whether it was the early hour fixed for leaving town for Ronn Bay, tho doubtful weather of tho foronoon. or most nrobably the.

American University football leam-a match against Wellington that was the deciding factor in keeping the numbere down, is doubtful, but, probably, the combination of circumstances was too strong, excepting for the real enthusiasts. A start on an exploring expedition was made by AV. Watt and T. Farriugton in the direction of Gollan's A'alley, which was found to be in so muddy a condition that what appeared to be a comparatively easy route to the western ridge was followed through gorse and scrub. Before going far the hares found themselves hopelessly bushed, but, as their retreat was cut off by the rapidly-ap-proaching pack, they had no alternative but to keep going ahead. Fortunately, they eventually blundered on to a cattle track, which, after meandering for a mile or more through manuka scrub and ti treo bush, brought them out in a soaked and muddy condition to tu« "trig" station on Mount Cameron, from which a clear run down tho main ridgo led back to Gollon's Valley Road and Muritai. A' lengthy run in of nearly a mile was won by F.. Wilton from W. Press, who was closely followed by C. Rowborry. The unusually long course was responsible for tho pack missing the steamer for town, but, fortunately, Messrs. L. W. Pilcher and H. A. Lamb were prepared for this contingency, and provided tea in the former gentleman's cottage for the hungry paok. Eventually the explorers returned home by a later boat, wet and tired, but in a perfectly contented frame of mind.. 1 Entries for the popular steeplechase handicap, which is held annually at Trentham by courtesy of Mr. A. E. Whyte, of the Wellington Racing Club, close at to-day's run from Island Bay.