AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Shannon News, 5 February 1926, Page 3

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

' AMERICAN WORLD BEATERS IN LEVIN. NEXT WEEK'S GATHERING. The American athletes, Jackson ' Scholtz, world's sprint champion, and Lloyd Hahn, America's greatest distance runner, who are at present touring throughout New Zealand under invitation of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Council, are due to make their appearance before the public of Levin arid district at the Park Domain, Levin on Thursday, l'Mi Febn> ary. meeting, which will be hold under electric light . commences at 7.;R) p.m., and as this is the only appearance' of these World famous athletes between Wellington and Hawera, a.lafrge attendance of the public is anticipated. Whilst we are entertaining Jackson , Scholtz in our midst it is particularly pleasing to receive word over the cables that his 100 yards run of 9J seconds at Greenborough last May has been recognised by the American Athletic Council as a world's record for the distance. Coupled with his six wins • and one dead-heat out of t-crf' 'starts with Charles Paddock, this latest recognition of Sclioltz's greatness definitely.disposes of Paddock's claim to be the world's champion sprinter. Scholtz's superiority, however, began to manifest itself at the Paris Olympiad, when he disposed of the Californian in Olympic record time in the 200 metres," and also headed him in the 100 metres. His running since arriving in New Zealand has shown that he is almost at the top of his form, as in Auckland he ran the first heat of the 100 yards in 9 4-ssecs., whilst he also ran the 320 yards in •21 2-ssecs., which is l-ssec. better than N. J. Greahan's Australasian record. He also ran exceptionally fast times at Gisborne last week. Lloyd Hahn has been off the tracks for six months, but demonstrated that he should soon reach the top'of his form, by running a mile in 4min. 28 sees., at/ Auckland. During last season he was on several occasions credited with running a miile in 4min. lfisec, and he holds the world's records for f-mile and 1500 meters (indoor running). The meeting in Wellington between him and the Australasian champion, R. A. Rose (Masterton), who showed his quality at the Country Clubs championships held at Levin last Easter, should be a thrilling encounter. An endeavour is being made to arrange lor Rose to meet him here, but so: far nothing definite has been fixed.

All the leading athletes between Wellington and Wanganui will be competing and the cycle races should prove even more thrilling than, the last meetings. Amongst the cyclists down to compete are T. Oakley, who won the three-mile championship at Wellington last Saturday, and K. Ericson, of .Wanganui, who rode excellently at the 2nd January meeting.