TRACK AND FIELD

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 4

TRACK AND FIELD

ATHLETIC NEWS AND NOTES [By Pistol.] FIXTITTiES. October 21.—Ota go Boys' High School sports, iit Carisbrook. October 22.—Technical High School sports, at Carisbrook. November w. Otago secondary schools' championships, at the Caledonian Ground. R, 0. JOHNSON'S RECORD GREAT SERVICE TO SPORT Otago athletics this season will miss the services of J?. 0. Johnson, brilliant all-round field athlete and coach, who has informed "Pistol" that he will not be taking an active part in track and field athletics. Johnson is the holder of the New Zealand men's diving championship, and he will be concentrating this summer on this branch of his sporting activities with a view to defending his titlo at New Plymouth in February.

Over a period of years Johnson has combined liis swimming and athletic activities with an unusual measure of success under the circumstances. Last year he had tho distinction of being a member of the Otago team which won the Yaldhurst Shield at the national swimming championships, and a fortnight later ho was captain of the Otago team which won the Athletic Championship Shield. On a former occasion he comneted in Wellington in the New Zealand pole vault championship on a Friday, filling third place, and the next day found him in Christchurch, taking part in the New Zealand men’s diving championship, in which he was third. Johnson was a member of tho New Zealand t6am at the Australasian championships in 1927, and also at the Empire Games in 1930. He may be adjudged one of those fine athletes who have never had the good look to win a New Zealand title. He nvas freMiently runner-up in the Now Zealand nop, step, and jump championship over the last decade, often placed in the pole vault championship of New Zealand, and deprived by a mere technicality of having his name on tho list of New Zealand record holders for the pole vault. His closest bid for New Zealand honours was made at Wanganui in 1930,- when he was a member of the team which included J. E. Lovelock on his first appearance at a New Zealand championship meeting. On that occasion he was leading G. Sullivan, of Wanganui-Taranaki, until the last jump in tho hop, step, and jump, Sullivan (a brother of the North Island Rugby player) coming to light with 47ft 4in to beat Johnson at the finish. Johnson has won numerous titles at the Otago and Southland championships in all branches of field athletics. But great athlete though “ Ossie ” Johnson has shown himself to bo, it is doubtful whether his fine services to Otago athletics have been appreciated as they deserve to be. No one has done more to raise the standard of field athletics in this province. He brought about a boom in competitive field athletics and, by his line coaching, assisted many promising athletes to reach championship honours. Ho has spent lot of time developing athletes from tho various secondary schools, which owe him much. No man in New Zealand knows more of all-round field athletic technique, and he has always been glad to pass on the knowledge he has gained. He was a great supporter of the system of scratch competition, and was one of those responsible for the innovation of a scheme of racing which has materially improved Otago’s athletic standard.

The Anglican Club will miss his guiding hand, and so will athletics in general, for, as coach and supervisor of the training operations of tho Otago team last season, he was a big factor m tho success of the team at the Now Zealand championships. It is to bo hoped at least that his services will be available in some advisory capacity.

INJURY TO ATHLETE

ATTON STRUCK BY JAVELIN

A javelin thrower at an athletic meeting in England was recently the cause of a painful injury to the former Auckland representative distance runner, A. M. Atton, then of H.M.S. Diomede, who was badly pierced in the side by a spear. The insertion of several stitches was necessary, but Atton is now recovering rapidly. Atlhough he is stationed at Portsmouth at present there is a possibility that he will return to the Dominion in H.M.S. Beamier, which is duo at Auckland early next year.

Sahninen (Finland), who won the Olympic 10,000 metres championship from his countryman. A. Askola, in 30min 15.4scc. The Olympic record is 30min 11.4 sec, hold by Kusocinski, who w'on this event at the Los Angeles Olympics. At Berlin V. Iso Hollo (Finland) was third in this event, and he repeated his Los Angeles success by winning the 3,000 metres steeplechase in, the world-record time of 9min Olsec. In the picture Sahninen is shown leading Askola in a race sonic Time before the Games.

LOVELOCK'S DEFEAT

CAUSES LITTLE SURPRISE Jack Lovelock lias been credited with saying that he aimed to reach the peak of his form once during a season, and, of course, his phenomenal 1,500 metres record-breaking win at the Olympic Games represented not only the peak of his form this season, but of his career. It came as no great surprise, therefore, to learn of. his defeat at Princeton by Archie San Romani last veek, especially in view of the fact that he had but a short time in America before the big event took place. There was satisfaction in the fact that he managed to head Glenn Cunningham, who finished second to the New Zealander in the Olympic event, and no doubt, like Lovelock, Cunningham is also beginning to feel the strain of the year s competition.

San Bernard is only a youngster, and he might bo expected to rise to the occasion more than the other two. Like Cunningham, he is a Kansas product, and his victory in a 4.9 mile over such seasoned warriors as Lovelock and Cunningham, even if .they have passed peak form for the season, further bears out tho view of some of the leading critics that San Romani is likely to be the next Olympic 1,500 metres champion. He ran fourth to Lovelock, Cunningham, and Beccali at Berlin. . Lovelock was a prime favourite with the American spectators for his race last Saturday, and it gives New Zealanders a thrill when they listen to a broadcast from the track to realise in what high esteem their former Rhodes Schola r is held.

ON THE MARK Now is tho time for athletes to be doing plenty of light jogging round the track, building up the wind and loosening oty the muscles. With a view to assisting runners in their early season preparation, the first of a series of articles jvill appear in next Wednesday's ‘ Star.’ These will cover all branches of athletic activity, and should bo most useful to those_ now getting ready for the season's activities. A junior runner of whom good things are expected this season is Colin APGregor, who put up some startling performances as a junior at the Otago Boys’ High School last season. APGrogor gave a very good account of himself at the Anglican Club’s sports meeting recently. and, being a big and strong lad for his age, should do well in intorchih competition this supimer. He should bo brought along carefully, as ho Iqis great prospects. The track and field men are beginning to put in an appearance at the Caledonian Ground, and most of the clubs have been represented in training operations during the week. No meeting of the Snorts Committee of the centre has been held yet to draw up dates for evening meetings, but, if possible, one should ho held before the annual meeting, which is fixed for October If), so that the list might be approved there and an early start made with competition.

The senior fcup competition at the Otago Boys’ JHigh School meeting on October 21 should produce some outstanding performances, for two of those competing, in Alan Duff and I. M. Chandler, have already performed .with distinction at the secondary schools’ championship meetings. Chandler put up some sensational performances as a junior a few years ago, and. in sprint events especially, Duff lias shown most marked promise. Ho is a son of W. J. Duff, the well-known old-time sprinter, who has brought the lad along carefully since primary school days. Chandler has been “ stepping lively ” at the Caledonian Ground this week, and he can be depended on to show out well. He is one of the most promising athletes the school has had in recent years.

The Stawell Easter Gift, the richest professional foot race in the world, was first decided in 1878. The first winner was W. J. Alillard, who, off 3yds, covered the 130yds in 12fsec. This year’s winner was R. APCann (64yds), whose time was 12 4-16 sec.

There is still a possibility that New Zealand will entertain a team of overseas athletes during the coming season. The proposal to invito a team of Japanese athletes in still being entertained by tho council, and there is no doubt that they would be a big attraction. It would be the first visit to this country by a Japanese team, and they would certainly be assured of a royal welcome. v Air W. J. Duff, veteran sprinter, is a busy man these days, as be is training a number of boys from Christian Brothers’ and Otago Boys’ High School

for the Otago secondary schools’ athletic championships on November 7. 11. -0. Johnson, who does not intend taking an active part in athletics this summer, is also giving assistance to some of the field athletes. Bill Pullar, Peter Souter, Jack Souter, Jack Shepherd, and Alalcqlm Alurray have been on the track, doing some light jogging work, very wisely laying a good foundation tor a long season’s work.

Hugh Ramsay has also started the season’s operations, but is rather inclined to omit the necessary jogging in an effort to reach racing trim too quickly. A few weeks at the beginning of the season will be well repaid during the more critical stages of the competitive period.

Ales Grainger, formerly a member of the Dunedin Club, has joined up with the Anglican Club. He has been, out of the sport for a season or two, but with a little coaching should develop into quite a useful sprinter. C. Coombs and J. Rendal have been training for a week or two, and should be useful club men this summer.