Australasian Track and Field Stars

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 240, 30 December 1927, Page 10

Australasian Track and Field Stars

GOSSIP FROM WELLINGTON SOME GREAT PERFORMANCES (THE SUN'S Special Representative) That Wellington Wind There is not the slightest doubt that the running at the Australasian Amateur athletic championships was the best that has ever been seen at one meeting in New and there has been much discussion as to just how many seconds would have been cut off some of the fine times recorded had there been no wind. Good judges reckon that the difference caused by the wind in the quarter which C. Stuart won in 50 1-5 secs was as much as a second and a-half to two seconds; and in the half, which Stuart won in lmin 57 l-ssec, the difference must have been about three seconds. It was calculated that, without the wind, the mile would have been done in under 4min 20sec, and the sprint events would have been won in evens or better. Had it not been for the wind, the meeting would have produced results that would have made the world sit up and take notice. It was not a gentle zephyr that was wafted along the straight. After turning the bend the effect was something like running into a blanket, and it required much more than ordinary stamina to battle effectively against it down a straight 100 yards long. Darn* the Wellington wind!

Beaten On His Merits Malcolm Leadbetter, New Zealand sprint champion, had no alibis when he was beaten in both sprints at Wellington this week. It was thought that

the wind would suit him, but he is not nearly as strong a runner as Carlton in the teeth of it. Leadbetter ran well, but he seemed to lack the usual punch which he puts into his work, and he did not run with the

great dash he showed in Christchurch earlier in the month. That he was affected by nerves on the first day there is no doubt, but there is no doubt also that Carlton is a better runner. Both C. IT. Jenkins, of Wellington, and L. C. Elliott, of Auckland, ran more impressively than they did at Christchurch.

Still Going Strong J. W. McHolm, of Canterbury, the veteran at the Australasian championships, first competed in an Australasian meeting 16 years ago. In all, he has taken part in five, and he has won the hammer-throwing title three times, and secured second place twice. “Mac” is a wonderful judge of form in his own event. He stated before the New Zealand championships that whoever threw 140 feet would win, despite the fact that he, Jim Leckie, and Bill Harvey had all thrown over 140 feet in practice. On Wednesday morning he dismissed with a broad grin a suggestion that he would add . another championship to his very lengthy list. Bad Luck Chris Olsen, of Otago, made a mistake in the half-mile Australasian championship in leaving his run too late. He allowed himself to drop a fair way behind C. Stuart, the winner, and it is doubtful if he would have caught the New South Wales schoolboy even if he had not had bad Tuck in chasing him. As Olsen was going past another competitor they collided, and the small, light Otago runner was thrown out of his stride. It was a bad bump, that cost Olsen the New Zealand championship, and he can count this as his most unlucky season, for actually he is running better than he has ever run before.

Wants a Coach “Tasmania is a State that is in a weak condition as regards athletics at the present time,” said W. Barwick. the sole representative of “Tatt.’s Island” at the Australasian championships, “but it is a State that will be able to compete with the other States and with New Lealand in the near future. The material is there. We need only the coaching.” He gives an open invitation to any prominent athlete to spend a 12 months’ holiday in Tasmania, coaching the local material.

Middle Distance Men Whilst praise is being lavished on the Australasian championship winners, it is as well not to forget the performances of those who finished close up to them. When C. Stuart, of New South Wales, won the half in lmin 57 l-ssec, Olsen, of Otago, was barely four yards behind him, and Guy Nieoll, of Canterbury, was only about four yards further back. That means that Olsen ran his half in under lmin 58sec, and Nieoll did under lmin 59sec. Both of them ran better than 3ver they have done in their lives before. New Zealand championships in the next season or two should produce some wonderful half-mile races.

The Spirit Was Willing Game as the proverbial pebble is J. W. Shirley, the Auckland jump- and hurdles cham-icn, and it was very bad luck that he had to withdraw from the Australasian decathlon on Wednesday when he looked a certainty to gain third place at least. Shirley injured a foot in breaking his own New Zealand record to win the hop. step, and jump championship on Tuesday, and his 47ft Bin was a really fine effort at a time when New Zealand was struggling hard for the teams’ championship. He was massaged in the evening, and again on Wednesday morning, and limped on to the ground for the decathlon with determination written all over him. But this was an occasion when even the sternest spirit must submit to physical dis ability, and Shirley would have been more than foolish to try and go on past the second event in the decathlon. Lankey’s Fine Win Sheer determination carried W. Lankey, the Wellington walker, to victory in the three miles Australasian championship on Wednesday, after he had been well trounced by E. E. Austen, Australian champion and Olympic representative, in the mile the day before. Austen set out from the ?tavt to break up the tall Wellingtonian, and after about three laps had been covered it looked as if he would succeed, for Lankey was distressed. But he hung on like a leech’. Lap after lap went - ist, with New Zealand supporters expecting all the time to see Lankey drop back. Even when the last lap started it looked as if he would be just a creditable second, and when he speeded up and went past the Australian on the back straight the roar that arose was as much of surprise as of anything «lse. Austen had verplayed Ills part, and once Lankey ,vas past him the race was over, for the little Australian lost ground all the way up the straight. Lankey’s win was the surprise of the meeting.