Evening star., 1932-03-30
ATHLETIC EVENTS
WELL PATRON|zED
Crowds Thronging Contests
Brilliantly Entertained by
Star Performers.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

n TEW YORK, March 30-Sport
M during Winter has ex-
4 Y pressed nothing but bur-
geoning and progressive
spirit.
Athletes have not shared in a
depression generally felt in other
quarters and their exploits, fol-
lowing in rapid and blazing Sc
quence, have illumined a section
of a gloomy world occupied by
the United States of America.
And not only have there been brave
and memorable deeds, but popular sup
port has been neither faltering nor par
simonious. We have yet to hear walls
from promoters of athletic events of
diminished receipts or waning interest.
AS cases in point, consider the bumper
attendance of 5000 in the indoor meet
of the Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic
Association of America, the largest on
record, and the public outpouring for
the national indoor tennis champion
ships and the matches of the Indoor
Polo Association.
New Heroes Emerge.
In point of achievement new gods
have established themselves in the
galaxy of those who have accomplished
greatly. Still echoing are the thunder
Gus plaudits which at the Madison
Square Garden last month acclaimed
the running of the fastest mile, indoor
or out ever stepped by a human being
In America.
Gene Venzke, the Pottstown, Pa,
schoolboy, will run yet faster before he
Is through, but that mile in 4:10 already
has made him immortal. Just as Leo
Sexton. the brawny New York Athletic
Club shotput performer, gained place
upon the topmost height by establish
ing new indoor record with the 16-
pound ball of So feet 83s inches.
Add to these performances the feat
of George Spitz of New York Univer-
sity, who at the Boston Athletic Asso-
ciation meet leaped over a delicately
balanced crossbar at a height of feet
S12 inches, higher than any human
being has ever leaped before; add also
the new world medley record set by the
New York University quartet at the A.
A. U. indoor championships, the break
ing of the Emile steeplechase mark by
Joe McClusky of Fordham, and you
have a story of achievement which
few, If any, Winters ever have equaled.
MarveIs at Tennis.
In tennis, followers of the sport wit
messed a stirring battle for the world
professional indoor title between Will
liam Tilden and Vincent Richards. Six
thousand enthusiasts saw the lanky
Philadelphia veteran turn back his
more youthful challenger, 50, 6-3,
6-1. Out in California, Lester Stoef
fen, No. Is In the national tennis rank
ing, supplied a stunning upset in
defeating Ellsworth Vines, the national
champion. There are those who say
he will do 1t again in Eastern tourna-
ments this Summer.
Gregory Mangin's achievement in
winning the national indoor singles still
is subject for discussion among tennis
folk, and worthily so, for the young
Newark boys courage and skill and
stamina in turning back the mighty
Frank Shields was no ordinary accom-
pliShment.
Gilbert Hall retained his covered court
Canadian title by virtue of very fine
tennis, in which in the final at Montreal
he defeated Berkeley Bell. George Lott
and John Van Ryn added to the i'm
preston that they are the worlds great
sst doubles team by winning the nation
al indoor doubles in convincing manner.
In golf, Macdonald Smith won the
valuable Los Angeles open and Tommy
Armour, holder Of the British open title,
captured the Miami open in sub-par
game. Maureen Orcott showed her
mettle by defeating Helen Hicks, wom-
ems national title holder, for the Flor
ida championship.
Finally, Billy Burkes triumph in the
Florida West Coast open showed that
the national open champion will be in
there when the big show starts this
Summer.