Track & Field

Hoff. Charles Hoff, with a vaulting pole in his hand, paced down a runway in Madison Square Garden. Already he had cleared the bar at 11 ft., 11 ft. 6 in., 12 ft., 12 ft. 6 in., and it had been announced that he would try for a super-world's record of 13 ft. 6 in. He took one stride, two strides on the runway, then came a splintering crash, he lurched sideways, went sprawling into the landing pit. A board had broken under his foot. He arose, limped to a bench. A masseur got to work on his ankle, a carpenter repaired the runway. In a moment he was in front of the crowd again, pole in hand. A great shout went up. Effortlessly, majestically, he sailed over the bar at 13 ft. 4 1/2 in., a new world's record.

Hubbard. The great black legs of De Hart Hubbard have made him famed wherever legs are discussed. But it was not expected that these pistons would perform any prodigies in the American Legion track meet in Boston last week. Mr. Hubbard needs to be out of doors to run well. He does not feel free or limber under a roof. His great black legs also prefer spikes and a cinder track to rubber sneakers and a smooth armory floor. Yet Mr. Hubbard, who holds the world's broad-jump record, won the 50-yard dash, finished second in the low hurdles, and rounded off his day by sprinting 65 yards in 6 4/5 seconds breaking a world's record* that has stood for 18 years.

*Seven seconds, set by Lawson Robertson in 1908, equaled in 1913 by Howard Drew (Negro), in 1924 by Loren Murchison.