ATHLETICS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2175, 13 June 1914, Page 14

ATHLETICS.

[Br Mercury.] NEW RECORDS FOR OLD. ~ A World-Beating Jump. , A world's' record, broken and another equalled within half an hour at the name meeting is a "double" not often seen at a sports meeting. Yet this occurred at a gathering of tho Universities of' the Pacific Coast at Berkley, Cal., on May 2. . Tho broken record was that the high jump. A new figuro of 6ft. 7 '5-16 inches was established by Dr. IS. Beeson "after a great contest with George Horino, who hold tho then record at fii't. Tin. All tho conditions required by rulo appear to liavo been complied with, so that official endorsement of this great feat is held to bo only a matter of time. •It is tho irony of fat-o that Beeson has been a pupil of Horine's, so that, as has happened before' many a time, the pupil has outshone his master. The two jujmpers have been good friends and great rivals for many a day.' Each represents a rival University, Beeson being a California and Horino a Stanford man, so they havo clashed often in competition, and the result of thoir striving has placed them at the top of their particular department in athletics. The report to hand says th(it the first to congratulate the recordbreaker was tho man whoso record lick had broken—so good sportsmanship goes hand-in-hand with ' good performance. / Magnificent Hurdling. Tho next excitement at tho meeting was provided by Fred. ■ W. Kelly, or tho University of South California, tho Olympic hurdlo champion, and present world's record holder. The sensation is thus described by tho "Referee's" special correspondent:— Ho equalled his own world's, tocord timo of losec. flat for tho 120.vds. high hurdles. ! It was a magnificent performance, and more remarkable when ono considers, that Kelly had only twelve hours previously stepped off an overland train in winch he had spent four days crossing tho Continent. And Kelly had to run in world's record timo to win the race, for he was hard pressed all the way by his team mate, Ward, who finished only ' half a yard behind, and by, Murray, of Stanford, who ran in a good third. But this was not all of the sensations of the afternoon. A lesser record was also smashed, and smashed twice, at tho samo meeting. Tho curious happening is reported thus: — Tho breaking of the Pacific Coast two miles record twice in the ono afternoon was unique. Hobgood, of the Oregon Agricultural College, performed tho feat first in tho regular two miles race. His time was 9.37 1-5, the previous record standing at 9.42 2-5, to the credit of Harry Wood. But Hobgood's record only lasted half an hour, for thero was a special race oil the programme to enable Oliver Millard, of tlie Olympic Club, to lower the record. Assisted by pacemakers, Millard set out in great style. At the mile ho had nearly sscc. to spare, and lie finished strongly m 9.1)1. Naturally enough, Hobgood was sore, and he straightway/issued a challenge to Taco him at any time over the two miles distance. A Cood Hundred Yards. Then, to crown a great day's work, came a good run in the. "hundred" by Howard Drew, tho coloured sprinter, who recently held the world's record of 0 3-Csec. On this occasion, although, i liko his club mato Kelly, he had just complotctHhe cross-continent train journey, he jumped to the front in the i 100 yds., aud won by two feet in 9 4-5 i sec. Tall Figures. ] What is described as the most ro ( markable road race in America was ] held in Now York on May 4. ' This was tho "Evening Mail" Modified Mara- ® thon, which was through the streets of New York, over a distance' of just over < thirteen miles. Thero wore no less t than two thousand entries, out of which 1 small field of nine hundred and 1 ninety-nine started. Reports of the ' !velit state that it was witnessed at I rations points by nearly two million < jpectators. It was won by the Fin- •' iiish Olympic champion Ilamus Kpleh- I [iiainen ; time, lhr. 9min. 0 l-ssee. ' Notss on tha Harrier!). i From the usual source corncs a wel;oine budget of harrier notes, us under: ' "Consider I lie provincial cross-conn- *; .ry, championship! Last year liiis •• ■vent look place in Masterton on .Inly ' when ten (earns, representing live : jiub.s, competed. The affair was iinloubtcdly a big success, and gave great iromise of a decided advance iu cross- ] lountr.v running in the province. But, s this promise (o lie fulfilled'i ll is ( low barely more tlinii live weeks to nal year's date, and jo far nothing ap''ire been dono about tho fix- £

lure. Tlio varifHis local ehib's have I Miiinioncod to train their towns in an- i ticipation, but as regards tlio official ! sido of tlie event nothing has been j heard. Club delegates tipo.n the- Centre lppear to be oacli waiting ujxm smother ; to make tlio first move;. ' Menntfhile timo is slipping away, ami tho event, if it is to be held, .is drawing pprilmisly near. It seems' imperative that the preliminary arrangements should be set in train at once by tlio' authorities. N T otico should be given to the country 3lubs at once, so that they can begin trnin ing operations, else thoy will 1® Found at a serious disadvantage. It is not fair to tliem that the event should bo -sprung upon them afc short notice, and it is not at all good for the sport. Local feeling is that tho executive \v ; 'il liavo to display /considerably more snergy and enthusias®, than has b-->>ii jpparcnt since tire ope'triftg of this pte* sent season if the eross-country championship is to ho anything like- the success this year that it, wus last. The irder of tho day lor officials and dubs is "Get busy," and then "Keep, busy." The Wellington Chtb has its big fixture, the Palmer Cut) rare, on hand to-day. If. nomiimt)6Bs are any criterion, thoro should ;'b& ft fairly field out striving for t]n> trophy. Tho present holder, T. Forrinpfon, ImS signified his intention of endeavouring to maintain his grip thereon, awl it is rumoured that his supremacy h.ns fce»n challenged by a eo-:r.i>ei itftr who shall bo nameless, but who is Considered by the cognosconti to be a rank outsider. In anticipation of tlio big five/it ta< lay, last Saturday's run frsm LyaJl Bay devolved into a "go-as-you-please," tlio whistle being dispensed with. Ooiaiequcntly the pace ivas a cracker over i trail of about eight miles. ■ Judr-.ii:g jy tho form shown., tha race to-day should be an cxeitint; one. Lanl year .he fastest time was hoisted by W. Doiiildson. who camo within an ftce of winling tho big trophy as Weil, hut this rear the fastest titfifir fa well hidden. 3e should be one of The followir.it qnar:et: W. Bennett, W. Press, AY. Dcnahl;on. and F. Rowbwry. The Brooklyn Club is Hot so miniori:allv strong this season as last, but- a ;ood proportion of its present- strength s mustering for the. weekly runs. A ileasing feature is-ffli-o. ronnber' c-f fiM season's men who aw turning suit, and :liis augurs well for future siveccS-;. In :he three-mile sealed Imnilicap last Saturday, sixteen competitors saddled I® Tom an entry of nineteen. Ths r&Milt showed that S. Shell mft'do tlio iVie*t ;imo. Ho disiilacod 8, llution at hslflistance, hut- tho latfer »Yns a-pMrsiitiy mything but fit. • Ah imwrora;): ri:m» ier is G. Bristow, nvlio, if 1® ewilitiucs is he is going, showM he 4 place-getter jeforo long. Thel'e appears to bo Vro liention this season: of R. BahuaWim, vho showed good form last, year, aiitl vith another season's riil.pfOviriiie.nt should now bo ckilmirg a jffeco ill tlio :lub's representafiyo. team. Anrither nember who is in, tlio nufflii'ig for tho :eam is J. O'Neill, and if tho text few veeks bring continued improvement, lira 'laims will call for eojwidwatiofi. Tho Olympic Club's debut has sd far leen a successful one into the losal larrier field. Numbering atiioiig its jersoiinel tho present cross-country diampion, p. J. Rryiie, and too atWs >_f tho Wellington Centra's :ives of last year, on paper, this flhAi ippears to liavo 'tjip strongest c-'ub ;eam ih- tho city. Byrne is enptajfl sT -lio club, and is rtimmtg well jus; inr.v, mt tho others have yet to strike form. r«-o members who. liave Wb jWoTiimcnt' 'Plate are D. Alabaster «ti-cl A. Cook, :ho latter _ especially showing iiaprovelient on-his showing of last tertr. The Central ChA (our Wednesday dub),'under tho captaincy of C. Ehie'ii, daims to be doing well this season, Just -ho lack of direct ittfofnratioji snakes its doing?.