ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2374, 15 December 1908, Page 3

ATHLETICS.

WELLINGTON AMATEUR SPORTS

KERR’S FINE PERFORMANCE

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. The Wellington Amateud Athletic Club held a sports meeting on Saturday at the Athletic Park, which was for the first time used for the purpose. The attendance was not large. The only features of the meeting were Woodger’s running land Kerr’-s walking. The former, who is com--partively a new man, .appeared m the 100 metres race, which was substituted for the familiax* 100 yards. He won his heat from scratch in the .fine time of llsec, only a fifth of a second below the Olympic record, but in the final he avas beaten by a few inches by men who had 8 or 9 yards start. Kerr was id, and only put in an appearance to prevent the public being disappointed. He a iked two races in bandages, and the effect of his indisposition was shown in his labored style. Nevertheless he put up a splendid performance in the mile. \ He could not catch Fitzgerald, who had 150yds 'dart, and walked very freely. Kerr’s tun© was 6min. 45 l-ssec. The next out once was the Olympic race of 3500 metres (two miles 305 yards), in which L err came third in London, his time being 15min 43sec. Fitzgerald had 320yds start. Kerr outdistanced the rest, and passed Fitzgerald J 25yds from home in the last Cap. The litter had apparently tired away, but found himself again, and stuck to Kerr’s shoulder, and both sprinted for 100 yards. Fitzgerald: slowly drew past, aa4 though Kerr brie| his utmost,

Fitzgerald succeeded in _ getting to the post first by a few inches after one of the finest finishes imaginable.* This lengthened sprint was responsible for the wonderfully good time oi 15min 25 4-ssec, or 17 seconds better than Kerr’s Olympic time. Both men were completely exhausted at the finish, and to'put up such a time is his crippled condition was a wonderful performance on Kerr’s part.