Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1918 — SWEDES ESTABLISH MANY NEW RECORDS [ARTICLE]

SWEDES ESTABLISH MANY NEW RECORDS

Complete Most Successful Athletic Season in History. Track and Field Athletes Have Made Wonderful Strides and Wlil Be Factors to Be Feared in Years to Come. Notwithstanding its proximity to the scene of the European war, Sweden has just completed the most successful athletic season in the history of sport in that country. Under the coaching of Ernie Hjertberg, formerly prominent in American amateur and professional athletics, the Swedish track and field performers have made remarkable strides and will be factors to be feared in years to come when international track competitions shall have been resumed. New Swedish Records. Twenty-two new Swedish records were established, four of these being new world’s records. Three of these world record performances were the work of John Zander, the phenomenal long-distance man, whose defeat of Ted Meredith at 1,000 meters in the Stockholm stadium in October, 1916, will be recalled. A Bolin, who tied with Zander on that occasion in 2-31.2, equaling the world's record, has two of the new Swedish records to his credit, and Zander has three, apart from his world’s records. Both Zander and Bolin are special pupils of Ernie Hjerberg. Zander’s world’s records are: 1,500 meters, 8:54.7; 3,000 meters, 8:85.7; 2,000 meters, 5:31. His best performance was the 1,500-meter run, which Zander ran alpne. The former record, 3:55.8, was held by Abel Klylat. Zander clipped no less than 5.2 seconds from Attila’s record in the 2,000 meter run, and nine-tenths of a second from the 3,000-meter figures. The other world’s record to go was for throwing the javelin, best throw with each hand, in which Yngve Hackner set a record of 114.28 meters. Other Marks Made. The other new Swedish records established follow: 60-meter dash, 6.9 seconds; 200 meters, 22.1 seconds; 400 meters, 50 seconds (Bolin); 440 yards, 50.6 seconds; 800 meters, 1,55,2 (Bolin) ; one mile, 4:17.5 (Zander); 5,000 meters, 14:59.6 (Zander); 400-meter hurlers, 56.1 seconds; four-man relay, 400 meters, 48.1 seconds; four-man relay, 800 meters, 1:31.1; four-man relay, 1,600 meters, 3:28.3; four-man relay, 6,0d0 meters, 17 minutes; high jump, 1.89 meters; pole vault, 3,883 meters; discus throwing, both hands, 83.46 meters; running three miles, 14:38.7 (Zander); 1,000-meter relay, first man running 100 meters, second 200, third 300 and fourth 400, 2:1.5. One new record was also established in the peculiarly Swedish contest known as the “mellanhop,” a jump for length over the gymnasium horse.