ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 21 June 1913, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

(Br Mercury.)

"WE WANT THE AMERICANB." Rallying Round the Flag. Matters in connoction with tho projected vittit of tho Atnerioftn athletes arc fit a ol«n<l'(iii!l just now, pending word from tho Australian Aw/Xiiation re tho guarantees required from them by the N.Z.A.A.A. Jn tho JJomiriion tho position is encouraging. Of tho clubs concerned, apart from tlis centres, tho Wangarmi A.C, has guaranteed. £'M outright, Hamilton £2,% und tho Wairarapa A.A.C. MO. The M;ist«rton jK'opio, however, aro not suited in tho dato allotted them—New Yoar'n Day—on account of this boirig tho day for tho local Caledonian Society's meeting. Tho council, when allocating tho dates, had this very fixture in visw, and it -was hoped that tho amateur athletic control anil tho Caledonian management would combine in a big "meet", with tho Americano as tho start attraction. However, this is a matter for future arrangement. At present it is very aatisfactory to tho council to hx> that it has tho support of tho clul>3. Tho centres, too, aro rallying round tho colours. The council has received word from Auckland that its conditions havo been accepted by tho Exhibition Sports Committee, tho Otugo delegates to tho council have guaranteed their centre's acceptance, Wellington is, of course, a certainty, eo thero remains only Canterbury and Southland. Tho former centre takes a deal of stirring up, but thero is little likelihood of its turning down the council in this instance'. The dato allotted, Docember 16, is tho province's Anniversary Day, and judging from the Tcmarks in tho Canterbury sporting press, it appears to be in ovory way suitable for a big meeting, so we can fairly assume that the centres silenco is duo more to somnolence than dissent. .... r As for Southland, thero is no cause for worry. Quite apart from the fact that tho honour of starting the visitors on their series of "meets" has been handed to tho southerners, it is very lmprobabie that Mr. President Gow, Gerald, Kcddell, and company would misg such a chance of building up the sport in their centre.

All Depends on Australia. It Trill, therefore, be 6«n that the fate of the tour hinges upon the replies of We Commonwealth Stato Associations, and now thero is nothing that can b<s dono bv our council but to await —which i 6 Ijeing done with no little easiness, and, it must be confessed, some dcgreo of trepidation. Just What Americans are Like. Apropos of American athletics, the American mail lately to hand brings word of more brilliant performances in tne States. The possibility of the appearanco in New Zealand of some of tho American stars next season has qiuckcrwd local in ; terest in performances in the State., and, truth to tell, some of them seem 6imply hair-raising to us. 4 # .. Thus we see that at an inter- vardty meet at Birkeley (Gal ) on May 11 the high jump was won by C. Beeson, ono of the men proposed by Mr. Unmaok for inclusion in the team for Australasia, at 6ft. 5 3-Sin. Also, on tho samo day, F. Kelly, also of tho University of California, won the 120 yds. hurdles in 15seo. dead—this being tho first time the feat has been dono in America although lorrrat Smithson did the time at tho 1903 London Olympiad. r* Marvellous Mercorsburfl Sprinter. Great performances these, but wonderful as they aro they do not stand oiono. Thus wo read that in a college meeting ej camparatively new man in big has broken world's records of 220 yds. Ibe news appears thus in a telegraphic ■ ditjpatch in an American fllot "State College, Penn., May 2.-Eob-inson, the Meroorsburg sprinter, was tho hero of the moot, With a fast * track, id?al 1 oonditions,';antt pushed by '• a'fast field,-'ho'won' tlie ■ lflOyde. dash in 9 3-ssec., and' not long afterwards hung up a new world's reoord in tho 220 yds. dash, when.he finished in 20 £-sseo. Five watches in the hand 3 or competent officials agreed on tho timo, , and a committee of throo men, instructors in the school of engineering, measured tha track to bo certain that there was no mistake as to tho correctness of the reoord."

Commenting on this an export writes: "It should bB stated that it wm in his • heat of the one hundred that Robinson won in 9 3-ssec. He won the final of tho event in 9A-ssec., but even that is fast travelling. It seems tliat the same lad covered himself with glory by running his quarter in a relay race in Pennsylvania in 48 3-ssec., .which is pronounced 'tho fastest time cvor done by a schoolboy for this distance.' 'If the youth keeps up his lick he will beoomo a worltffigure on the cinder path before ho is through."- . Hero are some particulars of Eobinson, gleaned from an exohango:—"Ho started his seholostio career as ft sprinter at Mercersburg, and lost • year in the Middle Atlantio scholastic championships ho won the 100 yds. in lOsec. flat. This year his coach, James Curran, started him to work at the quarter-mil©, and with astonishing results. /Kobinson stands sft, 10in„ and weighs 1101b. This is his last year of Moroersburg, where he is preparing to enter the University of Pennsylvania." . „ , Whether or not theso figures, will bo endorsed as records by tho American A.U. of courso remains to be seen, but, that a young runner should even be accused of equalling the world's best over 100 yds. and beating it over tho furlong shows to what a pitoh our American oousins have lifted sprint running. One wonders where it will end. A few years ago an oventimer" was considered a wonder, now, in tho American colleges there are niore of them than (to use an Americanism) you can shako a stick at." Provincial Cross-country Championship. From "Mercury's" harrier correspondent comes somo interesting notes on country and local doings. Ho writes:— Definite word has at last been received regarding the Provincial Cross-coun-try Championship, whioh has beon sot down for July. 26 at Masterton. Latest advices from tho Waimrapa show that locally it is considered that tho Whyto and M'Kaj Shields, the trophy competed for at this meeting, will not be brought baok to town by ony of tho city teams. The selection of tho defending team is being proceeded with very carefully. Tliero aro 17 competitors for four places in tho Masterton harrier combination, and it is expected that this club will enter two teams. Tho date fixed should suit tho Wellington runncrs-it is tho Saturday fortnight before tho N.S.C.C. championship at Dunedin, and tho race should aid materially in tiho j selection of the Wellington team for that ! event. Tho Masterton peoplo deserve credit for the enthusiastic manner in which they aro working up the provincial championship. . It will be run m conjunction with an attractive football fixture, a that will not only tend to bring tho aftair under public- notice, but which will also provide some financial assistance. Pleasant Reports from up the Lino. In Feilding, harrier matters aro favourably reported upon: The club thero seems now fairly on its legs, and it Is holding well-attended weekly runs. Word comes from Palmerston North that harrier matters thero ' are progressing, but progressing slowly: However, now that the date of the C.C. championship is announced ono may look for a "buck-up" in tho Manawntu, as it is to be presumed that the Palmerston peoplo will send a team to Masterton. Palmer Cup. The Palmer Cup, tho star event in tho Wellington H.C. programme, takes place to-day. Members have evinced considernblo interest in the fixture, and, judging 1 from tho nomination sheet, a good field ' will saddle up. ■ A Popular Harrier, Last week's doings 'lmve beon recorded : in the daily columns, but thero is ono i happening since tho last notes appeared 1 that calls for special mention. This is ■ tlio marriage of Mr. G. A. Scott, foundor : and ex-captain of the Central Harriers, > at present the energetic secretary of tho . Wellington Centre, and an ardent worker in the good cause generally. Mr. Scott j is hereby asked bo aocept tho best wishes > for the future happiness of his life parti ner and liimsolf of tho general body of I harriers in Wellington-