Next Target Is World Record 3:50 Mile

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 24

Next Target Is World Record 3:50 Mile

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) TOKYO, October 21. P. G. Snell, the first New Zealander to win three Olympic gold medals, plans to attempt a new record mile of 3min 50sec soon after he returns home from the Tokyo Olympic Games. Snell said this in a press interview soon after he received his gold medal for winning the 1500 metres today.

Snell made it clear that any immediate world record attempts he makes will be in New Zealand. “New Zealand has first option,” he said. Snell told reporters he could not say at this stage whether he would compete at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. "I can’t even say that I will still be running this time next year.” he said.

Asked whether he would compete again in the Los Angeles Relays, Snell replied simply: “I would not like to say.” Snell said he had not found today’s race as hard as the 800 metres final which was his hardest Olympic win, much harder than his first gold medal victory in Rome four years ago. He had been extremely tired before today’s race and could have come up for the final much better two days ago. He said he had begun pre-

paring for his 1500 metres win four years ago and had intended all along to make it his main event in Tokyo. Feared Only Burleson Snell said the American Dyrol Burleson, was the man he had feared most in today’s field, though he had beaten Burleson at the previous four starts. Told that Burleson was extremely disappointed with his run and had claimed that he was bumped by Snell and buffeted in a rough race, Snell said Burleson had had his opportunities the same as the other runners to manoeuvre. Asked about his tactics in the race, Snell said he had not planned to make an earlier move than usual, but after the slow early pace he decided he would be in a better position to “kick” at the finish if he moved up handy to the lead. He had been worried, he said, whether after five races in a week he would still have a strong kick left at the finish. Jazy Made Mistake Snell said he was pleased he did not have to meet the French champion, Michel Jazy. “Jazy decided to run in the 5000 metres and I still think he did the wrong thing,” he added.

Snell said his plans for the future depended on getting ahead with his career and on broadening his interests. He said running had interfered with his career as a quantity surveyor and he had temporarily given up study to concentrate on athletics. Golf Handicap, 16 “I feel now that athletics are the only thing I know anything about and I would like to broaden my interests." His broader sporting interests, he said, would include golf and tennis. His golf handicap was 16, he said. Snell said he was not disappointed at not breaking Herb Elliott’s world and Olympic record of 3min 35.6 sec, set at Rome in 1960. “I did not plan to break the record,” he said.

Snell told a questioner he thought he could have run a second or so faster if he had been pushed.