Arizona republican., 1918-02-03
NAR RETARDS
 NEW RECORDS
Republican A. p. Leased Wlre1

NEW YORK, Feb. 2.-The effect of the present war upon. American track and field athletics can be accurately gauged by the fact that for the first time in some years there was not a single claimant for a new worlds rec ord at the close of the 1917 season. This is the first year in a decade that one or more performances by Ameri- can athletes have not been reviewed and prepared for acceptance by the International Amateur Athletic fedora tion. The same situation prevails Tn other countries which in normal times devote considerable attention to track and field sports So far as is known there were but two athletes whose rec ords, made during 1917 appear entitled to acceptance by the I. A. A. r. Those are Zander, the Swedish middle dis tance runner and Hacknor the javelin throWer, both of whom trained under Ernie Hjertberg
 During the past year eight American athletic records were equalled or sur passed but in no case did the perform ance reach a worlds record standard. In sharp contrast to this was the work of American swimmers for both in
  ponents of the crawl trudgeon and other strokes clipped sizable slices for the best previous figures in various events. No less than five new records were made under the rules of the h. ternational Swimming federation and these will be duly accepted when a meeting of that organization is held after the declaration of peace has re- stored conditions.
 No such string of track records for the past year is awaiting the acton of the International Amateur Athletic Federation. There has been but one formal conference of this organization, which followed immediately after the formation of the federation At that meeting a long list of worlds amateur records was passed upon and accepted and a list of regulations drawn up for the handling of any records estab- lished in the future This gathering was held early in 1914 in France. With in few months the European war broke out and ended the activity of the organization
 The athletic associations of the coun- rries which subscribed to the organiza- ton of the I. A. A. F., however, have | kept careful record of all athletic per formances which merit the consider alton of the feQeratl0n ana tDeSe VIII be submitted to that body at its first meeting following the close of the war. | At the present time the American Am 1 ateur Athletic Union has fifteen rec | ords which equal or surpass existing i figures and these, having been ac- cepted by the American organization, will in turn, be presented to the inter national group for it's sanction and stann Of aODrOVal.
 Four of these performances were made in 1914 and an equal number the l following season. In 1916 the number l increased to seven but, as stated be- l fore, the past year saw no track or
 field record approaching those already
 on the books. Since 1900 American
 athletes have established 45 records
 which have been or eventually will be
 accepted by the l. A. A. F. during this
 period there have been ut six years 1T
 which the nations star performers ! have failed to equal or better existing
 records. 1907 was the last blank year
 previous to 1917, and if another nine
 years should elapse before a recordles:
 period recurs, it is apparent that few l of the events which American athlete: | specialize in can escape the making o ! new and better makes