Snell Not Worried By U.S. Mile Times At 3:57

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30482, 2 July 1964, Page 16

Snell Not Worried By U.S. Mile Times At 3:57

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 1.

New Zealand’s Olympic champion, P. G. Snell, will start worrying about American opponents “when they start running around 3min 54sec.” This was Snell’s reply when he was asked today whether he saw a threat in the fact that four men were timed in the vicinity of 3min 57sec in a recent mile in the United States.

Snell believes there is more likelihood of his setting world figures in New Zealand after the Olympics than at Tokyo. Both he and M. G. Halberg, who were in Wellington today to represent New Zealand athletes at a presentation in Parliament Buildings, forecast a big season in New. Zealand athletics next summer.

“I see no reason why there should not be record attempts here next summer,” said Snell. “In my case they would be at 1000 metres and one mile.”

Discussing his training for Tokyo, Snell said: “I’Ve never trained as hard in my life.

“Before the Rome Olympics I had not had the same background of experience that now is enabling me to plan for Tokyo.” He would not make a final decision on whether the 1500 metres or 800 metres would be his main event until two weeks before the Olympics. Snell said that although be was better suited to the 1500 metres it seemed as though the 800 metres would be easier.

“The standard does not seem to have progressed in that event. Pre-Olympic form this year has not been good.”

Halberg confirmed that he wanted his nominations in both the 5000 metres and the 10,000 metres to stand. He said he was endeavouring to contact the national selector, Mr C. Thompson, to confirm this with him. “First, I will give everything I’ve got to the 10,000 metres. Only then will I start thinking about the 5000," he said.

Halberg was careful about assessing bis possible, form in New Zealand in the summer.

“I would like a metric record —there are plenty of them,” he said,