Australian “Running Machine” Clarke Sets Two More Records

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 13

Australian “Running Machine” Clarke Sets Two More Records

(N Z .P. A .-Reuter—Copyright)

OSLO, July 15. Australia s “running machine,” Ron Clarke, continued a fantastic world tour by setting two new world records last night. mnnn^ ar^e the first man to break 28 minutes for the metres and 27 minutes for the six miles. did not just break them: he shattered the barriers by 20.6 sec for 10,000 metres and by 13sec for six miles. , 10,000 metres time of 27min 39.45ec improved by 34.osec his own world record for 10,000 metres, 28min 14sec, which he set last month.

On the way to the tape he recaptured the world six-mile record which he lost last month to the American, Billy Mills. Clarke’s new time ■was 26min 47sec, compared with the former world record of 27min 11.6 sec. The Australian has now broken 12 world records in 16 races since he left Australia at the end of May. Last Saturday he became the first man to break 13min for the three miles when he clocked 12min 52.45ec. Little Competition Roared home by a large crowd of excited Norwegians. Clarke ran the second half of the race alone. But he had little competition even at the start.

The field for the race consisted of only two other runners, an Irishman, Jim Hogan,

'and C. Bjoernson, of Denmark. Hogan finished second in 29min 19.6 sec, while Bjoernson was third in 31min 3.2 sec. Clarke, a 28-year-old Melbourne company secretary, said after the race he had never thought he could run such fast times for the 10,000 metres. No Limitations However, he said, the record had proved that his outlook still held good. “My aim is always to improve my best times and it’s logical that I will. “I set no limitations for me or anyone. It’s too restricting. I know, too, that I can train much harder yet.” In the 800 metres event, P. G. Snell, still not running near his top form, was beaten by Bill Crothers, of Canada, by nearly three yards in the run to the tape. John Boutler, of Britain, was another four yards back, in third place. Crothers returned Imln 47.1 sec, Snell Imin 47.8 sec, and Boutler Imin 48.7 sec.