Lull In World Record Breaking ATHLETICS COMMENTARY From Our Athletics Corresnondent World records were beaten in 15 men's and six women's events during 1959 compared with 22 by the men and 11 from the women in 1958. There were no European championships or Empire Games, and though it is true that world records are rarely beaten in such important meetings, athletes preparing for them often surpass themselves. A look at the list of world records below shows that figures were beaten in only one Olympic event on the track, the 110 metres hurdles, while inroads were made on four of the eight field events and the decathlon. Limits have not been reached in any event, not even the 100 yards, where I believe we shall have a time of 9.2sec. realized by 1961. Yet the shortest sprints are much nearer the final barrier than such under- developed specialities as 1,000 metres or the hop, step and jump. This was the first year that records have been recognized by the I.A.A.F. for 200 metres and 220 yards round a ftull turn, both on the flat and over the low hurdles. I have taken the best previous marks for each event as a standard. There are bound to be innumerable foot- notes, of course, where record claims are concerned and the first is that 0. R. Norton's 20.6sec. for 200 metres on May 2 was achieved during a 220 yards race. H. W. Jones (United States) ran 220 yards hurdles in 22.5sec. in the National Collegiate cham- pionships at Lincoln, Nebraska, on June 13, but the race was started on the curve. In the weight put, all performances un- likely to be ratified have been excluded Long did 63ft. 7in. on May 2 but this distance was achieved with his seventh pLut. Seven trials are allowed under American inter-collegiate rules, but not under I.A.A.F. rules. It has been pointed out by American observers that S. (i. Iness's world discus record of 19oft. O-Iin. in 1953 was achieved on a seventh throw. iness having four throws in the qualifYi;ig com- petition on the Fnriav of the Nmiticnd Collegiate meet'ng and three more iu the final next day. The four by mile record of 16mnm. 25.2sec. set by the Hungarians was almost entirely due to that great runner Rozsavolgyi. Whercas the Australian quartet all played their Part the first two Hungarian runners could not beat 4min. 7.4sec. and Iharos did only 4min. 9.2sec. Since there was no opposition at all the chances of a record looked hopeless. but Rozsavolgyi, covering the first 800 metres in min. 59.4sec.. ran the last leg in 4min. 0.9sec. On a cold and windy day this was remarkable solo rinning. Womens records in 1959 indicated further breathtaking proeress in this branch of the sporL The 60 metres is rarely run (the world record of 7.3sec. has been held since 1933 by Miss S. NValasic- wicz), but in the other events there were performances of almost masculine abilitv. Miss Itkina. Miss Cuthbert. and Miss Balas have put their names to the lists in prcvious years but less was expected of the sisters \liss Tamara and Miss Irina Press. The weight put of 56ft. 7in. by Miss Tamara Press is 19in. better than the old figures and would have been considered almost unbelievable at the 1952 Olympics when 50ft. was beatcn for the first time. Yet Miss V. 1. Sloper of New Zealand rcached S5ft. 7in. in an unofficial competition in October. Every time a man or a woman breaks through a performance barrier it alvays rouses others to follow. The four minute mile must be rather old hat to the school- boy now that it has been beaten 52 times and we must expect further penetration of the unknown in less glamourized events. Citius, atitus, fortilus! WORLD RECORDS IN 1959 LULL IN WORLD RECORD BREAKING