Males in Water

In New York Athletic Club's swimming pool, the ablest male swimmers in the country gathered last week to compete in the Amateur Athletic Union's annual national indoor championships. After three days, eleven titles had been decided, seven records had been broken, and, from the glass-green water through which they had been splashing, three young swimmers had emerged who, in 1936, may well be competent to dispute the complete supremacy in short-distance races which Japanese swimmers established in the Olympic Games of 1932.

Titles. To observers who hoped to see him regain his title in the 100-yd. freestyle, the performance of N. Y. A. C.'s 34-year-old Walter Spence was the most disheartening of the meet. Twice called back for false starts in the final, Spence showed his disgust by waiting until his four rivals were almost in the water before following them. He caught up with all but one, finished second, by a yard, to his Clubmate Peter Fick.

The 300-yd. Medley was won by Chicago's Lake Shore A. C. relay team in record time. N. Y. A. C.'s Leonard Spence retained his titles at 220-yd. breast stroke and 300-yd. medley. Diving titles went to Miami's Elbert Root (low-board), Detroit's Dick Degener (high-board).

Of the seven Records at the meet, five were set by the University of Washington's famed junior,. Jack Medica. He swam the 220-yd. free-style in 2:10.8, fastest competitive time on record. Next evening he won the 500-yd. free style in 5:16.3, breaking the accepted world's record for that distance by 10 seconds, setting marks for 250, 300 and 400 yd. en route. Sixth important record was 1 :36.1 for the 150-yd. back stroke, made by Adolph Kiefer.

Swimmers. Jack Medica has been recognized as the ablest middle-distance free-style swimmer in the U. S. since Johnny Weissmuller became a cinemactor. Peter Fick, last week's free-style sprint winner, 20 years old, 185 lb., broke Weissmuller 's 100-metre record last year. Third of last week's main Olympic hopes, unknown nationally until this winter, Adolph Kiefer is a 16-year-old Chicagoan, trained by his father, onetime swimming instructor in the German Army.

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