DAVIES HOME, DISAPPOINTED

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30810, 23 July 1965, Page 13

DAVIES HOME, DISAPPOINTED

(New Zealand Press Association}

HAMILTON, July 22. The New Zealand Olympic athlete, J. L. Davies, returned home from a six weeks’ European tour yesterday, disappointed he did not run better over 1500 metres and one mile.

“I know I could have recorded better times,” he said. “Only during the last fortnight did I start to strike true form.” Because he was lacking speed in the early stages of the tour, he adopted the tactics of running from the front. As time progressed, he was getting faster over the last section, and was able to wind up for a sustained sprint. However, in his 13 races he won six times, was second four times, and placed third once. His unplaced runs were two fourths. Finest Efforts His finest efforts, he considers, were the 3000 metres in Czechoslovakia, when he was only two seconds outside M. Jazy’s world record. Another 3000 metres when he beat R. W. Clarke, in Fin-

land, and the mile at White City, London. In the last race he was second to J. Odlozil, with a time of 3min 56.95ec. Overseas athletics standards, he said, are terrific. European athletes were able to race at big meetings every week-end in various parts of the Continent. Clarke was an amazing athlete, who trained on similar lines to New Zealanders. But he mixed his track, hill and stamina work and considered himself in perfect condition at all times. “In New Zealand we separate these three training schedules,” said Davies.