AMERICAN ATHLETES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1942, 27 December 1913, Page 4

AMERICAN ATHLETES.

BRILLIANT SPRINTING.

MUDDLE OVER 220 YARDS RACE

RECORD TIME BUT SHORT TRACK.

Tho team of athletes which has been brought out from America by tho Now Zealand Amateur Athletic Association appeared on Athletic Park jesterday afternoon, and competed in tho sports arranged for the occasion of their visit. It was a dazzling day, the track was very fast, and the only condition which was in any way adverse was the breeze, which was rather high. However, notwithstanding tho customary Wellington Zephyr, some great times were registered, Parker was the wonder of tho day. Ho ran four times, and his marvellous finish sent the crowd nearly frantic with enthusiasm. His heat in tho 100 yds. handicap ho won with ease by eight feet in 10 2-sscc, but in the final of the event lie did over bettor, and covered the distance in 10 1-osec, running dead into tho breeze. At thirty yards ho did not seem to have gained on tho field, at sixty yards ho could bo seen coming, coming, mowing down the field. Running with tremendous power, ho burst to tho front like a shot from a gun, and flew through tho tapo four feet ahead of Hubbard, to whom ho had conceded five yards. Tho enthusiasm of tho crowd was boundless. Appearing again in tho 220 yds. handicap, Parker ran second in his heat, but ill the final ho created a fresh sensation. Turning into tho straight, and running like a machine, he hauled down tho leaders and struck for tho tapo with a rattle of speed which was simply magnificent. "Time, 21 seconds'," called tho man with tho megaphone. Well, 21 seconds would bo a world's record.' B. J. Wefers has 21 seconds to his credit on a straight course, and 21 l-ssec on a curved track. The Traok Short. Parker's track was carefully measured after the event, and was found to be eight yards two inches short. . It seemed that had tho track been tho proper length Parker would have at least equalled tho Australasian record of 21 4-ssec. held by N. C. Barker, • and would havo broken It. Opic's New Zealand record of 22sec. Yesterday's 220 affair is a sorry mix-up. Tho curved track was used, and every competitor's track was marked out separately. A licensed surveyor was employed to lay out theso tracks, but in order to ensure accuracy responsible members of the N.Z.A.A.A. should havo seen etfery course checked after tho survey. • For that matter, a check might have been taken after tho heats wore run, for it was clear then that the times were, too^.' fast .for the men who wero credited with them. It is .-all-'very hard on Parker, ,who rhfly not got a chance to perforin so well again. Anyone of several things may interfere with his future opportunities in New Zealand—track, rain, w-ind, or his own condition. This business was not the only thing which must havo annoyed the visitors. Caughey was anxious to break the Australasian shotputting record. His put was measured with an ordinary tape, and it was announced that ho had been successful. Another Mistake. Afterwards the steel tapo was used, and. it was ,/oimd he j, had ftnlyj: equalled '•tkV.'Ydcoul J 1 Caughey rather: naturally romarkod that they might' have let hini know tho correct result before he had finished putting. He will probably mitko another attempt on the record to-day. In . addition . to these'.things, the meeting was allowed to drag, and tho spectators wero dissatisfied. Such conduct of tho gathering will not do amateur athletics any good. Returning to the competitors, Caughey's put of 43ft...Tin. in the competition is well ahead of R. G. Rains's Now Zealand record (40ft: 3in.). W. AV. O'Reilly holds tho Australasian record— 44ft. 3in., and this the sturdy little American equalled in his attempt to sot record-hunters a new task. Power, the crack American miler, made only one appearance. He ran in the 1000 yds. handicap, but could \not beat down tho big starts which were given tho leaders. He would havo had' to register a record to win. He should be seen to greater advantage to-day, when he will compete in tho mile, for ' which distanco he holds the exceptional time of 4min. 17 2-ssec. /cinder track), very little slower than J. P. Jones's world's amateur record of 4min. 15 2-5 sec. Temnleton's Effort. Templeton is suffering from bad ankles and did not dn a great deal of work. He just failed to clear Oft. in the hi.ih jump, and he did not compete in tho pole vault. His run against Keddell, the Australasian champion, in the 120 yards hurdles was looked upon as one of the star attractions., hut was spoilt through Keddell striking a hurdle. Tho pair raced together till two fences from homo when Keddell struck the obstacle. He failed to rise to'tho next hurdle and tho crowd was robbed of a fine finish. Duncan Defeated by Mark. Of tho Now Zealand runners, L. J. ■Mark, of Auckland, showed clearly that he is (on present form at least) tho superior of A. ']'. Duncan, of AVollinglon, the present 100 yards and 220 yards champion of the Dominion. When Mark was here at the last championship meeting he appeared to be a nioro promising sprinter than the Wellington man. and yesterday'ho beat him all the way in the 100, and Duncan did not hold him for forty yards in their heat of the 220. J. Wilton, tho 440 champion, ran a good race in tho quarter, but the handicaps beat him. Tho milo walk brought out D. C'ashman, whose lino stylo was applauded, but the champion could not overtake a couplo of the handicap men. Tho half milo invitation race in which Powor was to run against tho Now Zealand cracks was cut out owing, to tho absouoo of A. W. Dormer, of Auckland, and Thomas, of Canterbury. ,'The gato yesterday amounted to about £200. Taking into consideration tho complimentary ticket-holders who were present, the attendance must havo totalled between 4000 and 5000 people. THE RESULTS. 75yds. Junior Handlcao. R. M. Hayward (Byds.) 1 G. Breed (9yds.) '2C. T. Young (4yds.) • 3 Also started: L. Avery (6yds.), M. Morris (Byds.), G. Bilderbeck (9yds.), 11. J. Pollock (9yds.). The field was bunched at tho tape; very closo finish. Time, Ssec.' 100 yds. First heat: G. Parker (scr.), 1; R. Messenger (syds.), 2; M. Pool (4yds.), 3. Also started: C. T. Young (Byds.), P. J. M'lncrney. (Byds.), R, M. Hayward (10yds.). Time, 10 2-ssec. Won by Bft. . Second heat; L. Avery (Byds.), 1; F. C. Hubbard (syds.), 2; J. Wilton (4yds.), 3. ' Also started: A. T. Duncan (Iyd.), L. J. Mark (Iyd.), M. Gaudar (10yds.). Time, 10 2-ssec. Third heat: L. Murphy (7yds.), 1; W .J. Bennett (syds.), 2. . Also started; G. P. Keddell'(2yds.), R. M'Kenzio (syds.), G. B. Austin (6yds.), M. Morris (lOvds.), G- Breed (10yds.). Time 10 2-6aeo. Morris was first to

finish (by several yards), but he fell under the tape.

Final. Parker 1 Hubbard (ovds.) ...-. 2 Murphy (7yds.) 3 'J'imc'iilO l-sscc. Won by four feet. 220yi)S. First heat: F. C. Hubbard (9yds.), 1; G. L. Parker (scr.), 2; W. J. Bennett (10yds.), 3. Also ran: M. P. Pool (oyds.), L. Murphy (14vds.). Time, 21 3-ssec. Second heat: L. J. Mark (2yds.), 1; R. Messenger (9yds.), 2; J. Wilton (4yds.), 3. Also ran: A. T. Duncan (2yds.), G. B. Austin (12vds.). Time, 21 2-usec. " Final. Parker (scr.) 1 Messenger (9yds.) 2 Mark (2yds.)' 3 Time, 21sec. Parker won by five yards. His track was Byds. 2iu. short. 120 Yards Hurdles. First heat: A. Hailigan (Byds.), 1; R. R. Templeton (scr.), 2; G. P. Keddell (scr.), also started. Time, 16 2-u Second heat: P. J. Doyle (10yds.), 1; R. Stagpoolo (lOvds.), 2; R. M'Kenaio (10yds.), 3. C. E. Robertson (10yds.), also started. Final. Stagpoole 1 Doylo 2 Hailigan » 3 440 Yards. G. H. Trcssider (25yds.) « 1 A. L. Trcssider (18yds.) 2 J. Wilton (scr.), 3 Time, 51 2-ssec. 1000 Yards. A. L. Trcssider (75yds.) 1 C. La Roche (Masterton), (85yds.) 2 T. J. Kerr (95yds.) 3 Also started: J. Power (scr.), L. J. Mark (A-uckfanit), lovds.); Williams (30yds.), E. B. Smith (40yds.), S. Hall (40yds.), R, J. Adams (85sec.), C. B. Revell (85vds.), J. Hceiian (90yds.), G. Bilderbeck (95yds.), L. C. Crass (95yds.). Time, 2min. 15 l-ssec. Tho first and second men fished 30 yards ahead of the next men. Power (America) finished about sixth, very tired. Tv/p Miles. A. Hudson (50yds.) 1 H. W. Williams (110 yds.) 2 W. Drummond (190 yds.) 3 Also started- W. E. Donaldson (220 vds.), R. J. BaTlantyno (220 yds.), L. C. Crass (250vds.i, Smith (110 yds.), Shields (190 yds.), Kerr (200 yds), Robertson (200 yds.). Time, 9min. 52 l-ssec. Won by 30 yards. Mile Walk. G. Turner (130 yds.) 1 A. B. Sievwrigh't (100 yds.) 2 D. Cashman (scr.) 3 Also started: Hastings (130 yds.), T. E. Johnston (10yds.), M. Tracy (17yds.). Time, Gmiii. 25sec. ; Boys' Walk, Half-mllo. Fred. Hickling 1 Time, 4min. 13 2-sscc. The rest of the field who did not retiro were disqualified. High Jump. A. Hailigan (Bin.), sft. llin 1 C. E. Robertson (4in.), sft. Sin X W. Bennett (Sin.), sft. Sin t R. M'Kenzio (Gin.), oft. Bin t JEqual, 2. Also jumped: R. R. Templeton, scr. Templeton failed to clear tho 6ft., which would'have given him a win. Pole Vault. R. M'Kenzio (Ift. 3in.), 10ft. Tin. 1 A. Harvey. (Din.), 10ft. lin. .••...'... 2 Theso wero tho only competitors. Putting the Shot. E. E. Caughey (scr.), 44ft. 3in. ... 1 AV. J. Bennett (7ft,), 42ft. 4in 2 J. M'Holm (6ft.), 3Sft. Sin 3 Hammer Throwing. J:. M'Holm (scr.), 131 ft.. 10m.*./.wu.i« i -l :E': R. Caughey (scr.), 126 ft. .1in...... '2' ' No others competed.

TO-DAY'S EVENTS. 220 RACE TO BE RUN AGAIN. It is officially stated by tho N.Z.A.A.A. that the final of tho 220 yds. Handicap will be run again to-day. Caughey expresses himself aS confident that ho can improve on his figures of yesterday in the shot put, when ho equalled tho Australasian record of 44ft. 3iu. Tompleton, who was unable to appear in tho polo vault, owing to an injury to his shoulder, will compete in this event to-day. Power has signified his intention of competing in both tiw mile and half-milo events. It is hoped that ho will show ii glimpse of his true quality in tho long event. A novel event to-day will bo tho 75yds. Hurdles, when Keddoll and Tompleton will again oppose each other.

Very favourable comment has been made by the American visitors as regards the track at Athletic Park. Parker in particular announced that ho could not conceive a' better, and certainly did not want a better track to work on.