Famous Mile Runner Retires.

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 283, 27 August 1935, Page 14

Famous Mile Runner Retires.

Bill Bonthron, oue of the greatest mid-dle-distance runners America has ever known, second to Jack Lovelock in the recent mile battle royal in the Princeton Bowl, has retired. He did 4min. 13sec. behind Lovelock—the fastest mile of the year by a native American on an outdoor track—a conspicuous exit from the sport. After that race the former Princeton University champion packed away his spikes. Business comes first with “Bonny.” He is an accountant in New York, and was working right up .o the last minute before the “Mile of the Century.” One of the best-built milers ever seen, Bonthron will always be remembered for his lion-hearted finishes. Along with 1 Glenn Cunningham, he has helped to draw many capacity houses at New York indoor athletic meetings. Training School for Atliletes. A movement is afoot to establish a training school for amateur athletes at Timaru, about Christmas. It is proposed to obtain the services of. prominent men in the different departments of sport to-act as tutors at the camp, and it is understood an effort will be made to procure S. Lay, champion javelin thrower, and J. Savidan, champion distance runner. Amateur athletes from different parts of New Zealand will be invited to attend for the session, which is expected to last about a week, and it is hoped the scheme will give a fillip to the sport in .South Canterbury. The directors of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society decided to support the proposal, which is being fostered by the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Sub-centre.