Athletics of To-Day 1929

-- ---- ~- Athletics of To-day forgotten by those of us who were fortunate enough to witness that series of thrilling contests which culminated in the supreme achievements of Eric Liddell, of Edinburgh University, and Guy Butler, C.U.A.C. The day before the race Liddell sat with me for a long time watching the progress of events in the stadium, and I recollect that he was much more concerned with the fact that Butler was having trouble with his leg than with his own chances upon the morrow. A series of unprecedented happenings followed upon the next day. World's and Olympic record of 48! secs. had been made by C. D. Reidpath, U.S.A., at Stockholm in 1912. In the first five heats of the second round at Paris, only one winner failed to equal 49 secs. ; in the sixth heat J. Imbach, Switzer– land, broke all existing records by returning 48 secs. ; and people began to wond r if Liddell, Butler, or any of the brilliant Americans could beat the swarthy little man from the Swiss mountains. The s mi-finals r solved all doubts. Butler, favouring a "game" leg, was forced to start standing. He fought out a great race with H. M. Fitch, U.S.A., who further decreased the record to 47! secs., the Englishman being content to qualify in second place. Then Liddell beat Imbach handsomely in 48! secs. When the men went to their marks for the final at 6.30 in the evening you could have heard a pin drop. Lidd 11, in the outside station, and Butler, n xt but on to the pole, started well. The little cot, setting a pace which it se m d no man might hold, showed clear of the fiel at the top of th straight. The question was- would he crack? uddenly his chin went up, his knees rose higher at every stride, all running sci nee was thrown to the wind . It was incredible, but h was running faster than ever, and in the end he fairly ripped through the tape in 47! secs. for yet another new world's r cord. It has been my luck to see most of th modern r cords made, from M lvin h ppard's 88o yards in Lond n, 1908, urmi's mile in tockholm in 1923, ob rt Leg ndre's 25 2 ft. long jump in aris, 1924, and Otto ltz r's half mile in London, 1926, right down to John Kuck's 52 ft. oi 1 ins. shot put at