ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2667, 24 November 1909, Page 6

ATHLETICS.

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS."

Commenting on Emilk> Lunghi’s halfmile in lmin 52 4-ssec at the Canadian Championships .at Montreal an American writer says: “After withstanding the attacks of aspiring'athletes for fifteen years, the world’s amateur record in the half-mile, held by Charley Kilpatrick at 1.53 2-5, has at last received a jolt that is likely to be recorded as a superior performance in the an nals of amateur sport. Emilio Lungin, the Italian runner, who has been competing in the East since, the Olyiv.jpic Barnes at London, covered the distance ■ In 1.52 4-5 at the Canadian championships recently held at. Montreal. Lun<rhi is easily the most prominent cin-der-path performer in the world to-day. That he would, do something startling in Canada was- generally expected by the close followers of athletics on the Atlantic Coast. Previous to visiting Montreal, Lunghi was only beaten .»y/ an error of judgment an a special 600

yds race by Harry Gissing, of the New York Athletic Club. In this race Lunghi defeated the great Melvin Sheppard. They had a hard race from start to finish. In the stretch Sheppard faltered, and while the Italian runner watched him Gissing slipped past on the other side and won the race in close te record time over a fast track. There is likely to be no question of the validity of the record, a,s every- arrangement was made for proper timing. .Five watches timed Liinghi, and President Jas. E. Sullivan, of the Amateur Athletic Union, was on hand to see that all of the rules it-ere observed. Nothing irregular took place, and Lunghi’s marvellous reebrd looks like the real thing. Kilpatrick made his record at the International games between the New York Athletic Club and the London Athletic Club in New York in 1895, and so wonderful was the performance considered that it has been ever predicted that faster time would not be made in this event. Lunghi first came into prominence at London Inst summer, when he gave Sheppard a hot chase in the 800-metre race, -wearing tennis slippers. When Kilpatrick established his mark he faced the best half-miler in England, arid had the advantage of having a team-mate, Harry Lyons, who was rated as the best pacemaker ever seen in athletics. Lyons used great judgment for the first quarter, and Kilpatrick ran the Briton off his feet in the final 440yds.”