ATHLETICS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22231, 23 October 1937, Page 16

ATHLETICS

AMERICAN COACH FOR NEW ZEALAND FORMER OLYMPIC GAMES REPRESENTATIVE CI'HBSS ASSOCIATIOK TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, October 22. As a result of enthusiastic work by Mr B. Sutherland, of Wellington, in cooperation with officials of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and the Wellington Centre, athletes in Wellington and other centres are to have the services for this season of a first-class American coach, Mr Fitch, an Olympic Games representative. He is to sail on November 10, and will arrive at Auckland on November 26. The proposal was first made by Mr Sutherland on his return from a trip to the United States and Japan. In the latter country he attended the Japanese-American track and field meeting. He interviewed a number of American coaches, including Dean Cromwell, who is recognised as the foremost coach in the world and who has produced more Olympic winners than any other man. After seeing the Americans in action and learning something of their coaching methods Mr Sutherland was convinced that athletics, in New Zealand could never make progress unless a first-class American coach was secured. Fitch represented America at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. In the semi-final of the 400 metres he created a world's record of 47 4-ssec, but it was broken by one-fifth of a second in the final by Liddell (Great Britain), who won the second semi-final in 48 l-ssec.