“Elliott Has Impossible Task To Beat Snell”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29791, 6 April 1962, Page 17

“Elliott Has Impossible Task To Beat Snell”

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuters-Copyright)

TOKYO. April 4. Mr A. L Lydiard coach of P G Snell, New Zealand's world record miler, today said he believed the Australian mile champion, H. J. Elliott, would have an impossible task trying to beat Snell over a mile.

In an Interview Lydiard said Snell was going from strength to strength. It was within his potential to run a mile in 3m!n 4hsec. Commenting on the possible result of the mile in the British Commonwealth Games in Perth in November should the two runners meet, Lydalrd said: “Elliott would be lost at the end.

"I believe Elliott has got an impossible task trying to beat Snell.

“He would have to do it the hard way—out in front—and the world record must go.” Lydiard said Snell had run against Elliott in Dublin two years ago, but Snell was “lost In the field.’’ Now it was different. Snell could run a marathon tn two hours and a half and could sprint the end of a mile faster than Elliott. Mr Lydiard has been explaining his training methods to Japanese coaches.

”1 know the Japanese can run world times in the middle and distance events, but they must first co-ordinate their stamina with speed work.” he Mid “It only needs one Japanese to run a world class time for the IMO metres and they will all be doing it. “It might take them two or three years, but I believe they can do it."

He said he hoped one or two Japanese athlete* would be able to visit New Zealand in the future.