Runners & Jumpers

When the three best mile-runners in the U. S.--Bonthron of Princeton, Cunningham of Kansas and Venzke of Pennsylvania--raced for the first time, last fortnight, Bonthron won by three inches. It was a comparatively slow race (4:14.1) because each of the three wanted the others to set the pace at the start. Last week Bonthron, Cunningham and Venzke raced again, this time at 1,500 metres, in the indoor championships of the Amateur Athletic Union in Manhattan.

The first five laps were fast but the race really started on the sixth when Cunningham pushed up into the lead. Venzke and then Bonthron followed him. With two laps to go, Venzke caught up with Cunningham and passed him. Half a lap before the end of the race, Cunningham repassed Venzke. Bonthron started his sprint coming around the last turn. He passed Venzke on the outside and started down the straightaway toward the tape, four yards behind Cunningham. Thirty yards from the tape, the gap began to melt. The finish duplicated the finish of the first race, except that the judges decided that this time not Bonthron but Cunningham was inches in front. Venzke again was a stride behind. The time (3:52.3) was a new indoor record.

The meet produced two more records: 8:50 for the 3,000-metre steeplechase, by Joe McCluskey of Fordham; 25 ft. 3 1/4 in. for the running broadjump, by Jesse Owens of Ohio State. More remarkable than either was a performance which, beause of the technicalities of A. A. U. rules, set no record at all. George Spitz of N. Y. U. and Walter Marty of Fresno State College tied for the high jump championship at 6 ft. 7 1/2 in. Then the bar was set at 6 ft. 8 7/8 in. for an exhibition. Marty cleared it on his fourth try. He got a gold medal but no credit for a world's record; his jump was not made in competition. Marty's consolation if he needed any was the fact that last fortnight he broke his own world record with a jump of 6 ft. 1/4 in. Spitz, the only other highjumper who has made 6:8 1/2 or better, crosses the bar scissors fashion. Marty goes over Western style, lying flat as he goes over. A tall, lean Californian who looks like Ellsworth Vines, he is a senior at Fresno State this year, plans to coach track when he graduates.

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