World’s Best Professional All-Round Runner

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 14

World’s Best Professional All-Round Runner

A FTER his brilliant victory in the , .Stawell Gift on April 13, Bon McCann, the 22-year-old Victorian runner, is entitled to be regarded as the best allround professional runner in the world to-day (writes J. J. Maher in “The Sporting Globe’’). lie can run from 75 yards to half a mile.

McCann's next aim is to win the world's sprint title at present held by Eddie Tolan, U.S.A. McCann, who is an ex-l’reston amateur, won the Stawell Gift, of 130 yards, from GJyds. in the last stride from Jack McCarthy, the South Australian •school teacher (lOJyds.) and Bob Spargo (Esseudon, OJyds.), in 12 4-16 see.—a yard and a half inside even time.

Besides being a sprinter, McCann is a capable middle-distance runner and holds the GOO Australasian professional title. “Five years ago, when I was running with the I’reston and Northcote amateurs, my ambition was fired to run in the Stowell Gift, because 1 had read the story of the big race at Stawell and the great honour attached Io it,” said McCann as I chatted with him on Monday night before he motored across to Bendigo to compete in the Bendigo Gift. "I had heard that George Collins, of Castlemaine. was an excellent trainer, and although others were angling for my patronage. I decided to place myself in hia charge. A Utility Man. •'Competing in the inter-club contests at Olympic Park under the V.A.A.A. I was called on to run over all manner of distances and became what might be termed a ‘utility man.’ Half-mile running has enabled me to develop endurance powers, and this, collided with my sprinting ability, made a useful combination. “At the outset Collins decided that I was to continue middle distance running until such time as I showed some speed over the Sheffield distance.

“Then began a two-year preparation for the big Stawell race. I did nothing but train all the while and, last year, when I went to .Stawell, Collins wao so confident that he backed me to win big money. As you know, he did hin roll because, in the semi-final on Easter Monday of last year, I was narrowly beaten by G. F. Sullivan, the South Australian, who. in the grand final, was just beaten by inches by Maurie Bishop. “I felt dispirited, but I remembered that Collins had taken my defeat like a true sportsman, and so this season I redoubled my efforts, and went through a most intensive preparation. I continued to run over middle distances, because I felt that it would play an important part when I had to produce not only speed but strength in such a hard race as tiie Sta well. “Over the week-end I went a bout my work with much more confidence than last year, although I realised that in Jack McCarthy I had a hard man to beat. “And what a finish it was I As you know. I just won in the last, stride by hurling myself at the tape and getting home by the smallest of margins. I was ouly seiiii-conscious when 1 went over

the line. Not that I was exhausted, but the thrill of victory overwhelmed me.

“Now that T have won at Stawell, 1 suppose I shall meet the fate of most past winners in recent years and pay for my win. The handicappers, no doubt, will put me on a back mark, and I must now turn my attention, very seriously, to any- championships that are offering. “1 hear that Eddie Tolan is returning next year to defend his world’s title against Austin Robertson, Roy Barker, and others, and I hope that I will be given an oljjortiinity to meet them all.’’ McCann is a most likeable young fellow. He was born at Northcole 22 years ago and took up running as an amateur at the age of 17. Solidly built, sft. Ojin. high, he is one of the best-conditioned sprinters seen at Stawell for many years. . A few weeks ago, when he won the Caetlemaine Gift on a downhill track in six yards inside evens, he encouraged his mentor to supoprt him for the big race at Stawell. On Monday morning, before the semi-finals were run, McCann was offered at B’s, but following his most impressive win in the second semi-final in 12 3-lOsCc., he became the odd.-son favourite for the grand final at 6/4 on. McCann is a young man of very temperate habits who believes in early rising and retiring to bed not later than 9 p.m. when engaged on a serious job. Many compare him with the late Jack Donaldson for versatility, because Donaldson was able to run half-miles in 1.58. besides having amazing sprinting powers. Who knows but what Ron McCann may one day reach the top of the tree? I believe that within two years when some of the present champions have begun to ■slip, McCann will be able to fall into their shoes and give a great account of himself. Don Bradman made a spectacular last appearance for the season in Adelaide cricket. Using a steel-shafted bat, he knocked up 194 in two hours It minuter for his club, Kensington. Eddie Tolan, the American negro sprint champion, is expected Io revisit Melbourne in December. Tolan is one of those amateurs who jumped into the professional game with the glamour of an Olympic championship still on them. It is doubtful whether he has made much out of his change-over, since professional running is practically dead everywhere save in Australia, and in his own America has been enjbalmed this 30 years. The prizes and pickings at the Australian meetings tire, therefore, not to be despised. The French runner Ladon- i megue, who was barred from the last Olympiad for technical professionalism, ma.v bo showing in Melbourne also. He still holds world's records—for 1000 and 2000 metres and three-quarters of a mile. The Victorian Athletic League will hobi elimination tests open to the best sprint- ] ers in Australia, and the leading eight I will challenge Tolan over 75, 100, 130, i and 220 yards. The tests will be held in I November, and the championships will I probably be contested in February.