RAN BEAUTIFULLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 7

RAN BEAUTIFULLY.

DR. PORRITT'S VIEWS.

Never, Fitter and Will Never Do

Better, Says Winner.

CYCLIST GILES IN FORM,

(Received 11.30 a.m.) BERLIN, August 6,

According to the special cot-respon-dent of the Australian Associated Press, Dr. A. B. Porritt, manager of the New Zealand Olympic team, says Lovelock ran so beautifully that he expected an Olympic record, but won so easily that Dr. Porritt was surprised it was also a world record. This is New Zealand's first victory at this Olympiad, and the second on any occasion that the country ever has been placed. , Dr. Porritt states that Lovelock decided only yesterday to run in the 1500 instead of the 5000 metres. He wanted to start in the latter, but the aompetition was so strong in that it was decided it was not worth risking both events. Nevertheless Dr. Porritt is of the opinion that despite his victory and the world's record Lovelock still is better over 5000 metres than a mile. Lovelock, owing to his medical studies, which he is continuing for another 2J years in London, may not run after the present season. Dr. Porritt attributed his success to Bill Thomas, who trained Lovelock at Oxford. Lovelock's performance is equal to 4m 4.4s for a mile. International experts pay tribute to the flawless display of the New Zealander. Lovelock, smiling and cheerful, after his victory, stated: "An incorrect starting line caused me to run three yards further than Becalli, but I did not mind as I knew myself to be in the best possible condition. I believe I never was fitter than in to-day's race. It was easier than in the Princeton 'mile of the century' last year against Cunningham and Bonthron. lam not surprised at the time recorded in view of the class -jf the competitors. Ido not think I will ever surpass to-day's time." Cunningham said: "I would like to 'lave gone home an Olympic winner, but [ cannot complain when I run 1500 metres in 3m 48.25." G. K. Giles (New Zealand) led for most of the way in his cycling heat. He ;taved off a determined challenge in the straight and won by half a length. Failing to repeat his own previous best J. P. Metcalfe (Australia). had to submit in the hop, step and jump to the Japanese, whose superiority to the Australian is readily acknowledged. Sheer physical speed and endurance enabled Taj>na to add nine inches to 'Metcalfe's world record. The Japanese land .almost flat-footed, and seem impervious to strain; perhaps because, weeks before training begins, they beat their heels against boards until they become so hard that apparently they ?an land on concrete without suffering.

Metcalfe made a gallant effort with, both heels and cine knee badly jarred.

John Edward Lovelock was born at Crushington, near Reefton, 26 years ago, und was educated at the Teniuka and Fairlie primary schools (South Canterbury), at the Timaru Boys' High School as a junior national scholarship winner, and at Otago University as a senior national scholarship winner. In 1931 lie went to Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar, and to pursue his studies in medicine. He showed athletic ability as a mile runner, and held the Otago University championship in 1929, and the Otago championship in 1930. In the latter year lie unsuccessfully contested the New Zealand championship mile race. At Oxford lie has represented the University several times in the mile race, being beaten in 1931 by J. Cornes, of the same university, but subsequently turning the tables on Cornes. In the year 1932 he sprang into the world's front rank as a mile runner when he broke the British amateur record with 4.12, and added a month later the world record of 3.2 1-5 for three-quarters of a mile. The next month he set a new world record figure of 4.7 3-5 for the mile. Subsequently the American, Cunningham, beat this figure, doing the mile in 4.6 8-10, and then in a match race last year Lovelock defeated both Cunningham and their two great rivals, Bonthron and Venzke. For a time this Lovelock's prestige was diminished by defeats by Wooderson, of Britain, but in his latest performance he J 1 ! 1 ® come back gloriously in the Olympic 1500 metres, to give New Zealand its first Olympic track win, and triumph over such U' eat rivals as Cunningham, Beccali and ?j reon ' n a race crowned by another world record. Lovelock has represented Isew Zealand at the 1932 and the 1936 Olympic Games, and the Empire Games in 1934. "PROUD OF YOU!" | PRIME MINISTER'S CABLE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) • WELLINGTON, this day. The following cablegram was sent to J. E. Lovelock to-day by the. Prune Minister, the Rt. Hon. M- J- j "New Zealand is. proud o . ur warmly congratulates yo „ splendid achievement. Kia Oa.