LOVELOCK'S RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1933, Page 6

LOVELOCK'S RECORD

WORLD'S BEST MILE

NURMI-LADOUMECUE EFFORT

: A. Paris, cable.: published- in "The Post" on September 0 stated that Paavo Nurini, the "Flying Finn," the Frenchman, Jules Ladoumegue, both former holders, and also the Finn, Erao Purje, would attempt at Paris on September 2_ (Sunday last) to break Lovelock's world mile record of 4min 7 3-ssec. No word, however, has been received to date of the attack on the record having been made. It is recorded,in a Glasgow^ paper that Nurmi, when interviewed at Hel- j singfors, expressed the view that Love-1 lock's record would be improved upon very shortly by at least 2sec. Asked as to who was likely to accomplish 6uch a feat, he replied that it would undoubtedly bo an Englishman or an American, although he personally considered it would be Glen Cunningham, of America, who recently ran the mile in 4min 9 4-ssec. Nurmi, who held the world record of 4min 10 2-ssec for eight years, from 1923 to 1931, also expressed his surprise at having himself failed to I establish a time at least, as good as ] Lovelock's, as during his last appearance in Paris he had been quite confident of doing so. ' "There can be no two opinions, however," he Concluded, "that at the moment Lovelock and Cunningham are the two best milers in the world." Further interesting comment on Lovelock and his phenomenal mile run at the Oxford-Cambridge v. Cornell-Princeton meeting at Princeton has reached the Dominion. It is. an article by Mr. William J. Bingham, director of athletics at Harvard University, and referee of the Princeton meeting. The following are extracts from the article:— "So smooth and effortless in his running as to be deceiving as far as speed is concerned, and with confidence as a great asset, Jack Lovelock, the Oxford student from New Zealand, not only can duplicate his brilliant mile of 4min 7.6 sec, but can do even better, possibly 2sec better. "Lovelock is the greatest miler in history. Furthermore, Lovelock can run a faster mile because he believes he can do it. That confidence actually is worth yards and seconds. "It was a wonderful race. Every track old-timer waits for a race like that. Some wait a, lifetime without having their ambition gratified.' I was fortunate to see it. None could forget it. "That last lap will remain indelibly printed in the memories of those fortunate enough to be on hand. It was the kind of race Which left a. person all out at the end. I know I felt that way. And that old campaigner, Joie Ray, who not.only.has seen plenty of mile races, but has made history in many, told me ho felt the same way. "Lovelock has many years of good running ahead of him. He doesn't wear himself physically or mentally. His style is easy, his stride light. -There is no reason why he should not be, in the' 1936 Olympics, the great miler of all'time.'' ;