GREAT RUNNERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 15

GREAT RUNNERS

PAST AND PRESENT

PROFESSIONAL FIELD

POSTLE'S VIEWS

Replying to the recent comparisons made by Mr. J. Bull, manager of Eddie Tolan during his Australian tour, between Jack Donaldson, Postle, and other great runners of the past, Postle himself defends his view of the American's style and methods as well as his own reputation as a sprinter, and an athlete capable of holding form. Postle originally declared in an article that he considered Tolan' style novicelike and ungainly, and that the American did not hold his form as a world's champion should. In his defence of Tolan, Mr. Bull analysed the performances of the champions, and made comparisons on the records he has kept as secretary of the Victorian Athletic League. "MIGHTY ATOM." Writing from Brisbane to the "Sporting Globe" (Melbourne), Postle states: I want it understood that I am not. trying to detract from the merits of Eddie Tolan's sprinting. He is truly a wonderful little chap, a mighty atom of strength, agility, and nervous energy. Wonderful development exists in his shoulders, neck, and back. Proportionate development is manifest in his legs, which taper to a small, active knee joint, and, likewise, to a small, neat ankle and foot. .In addition, he.wears the badge of character in his kindly-looking face—his merry flashing expression, denoting the playfulness of a kitten and tlie courage of a lion. Eddie Tolan is undoubtedly built for the job, and does it well. In the face of these attributes and his achievement, to try to belittle his ability would be the act of a coward. Still, it is quite possible that, had Tolan been taught on different lines, he may have developed greater powers. If he swung his arms lower and more naturally, instead of holding them up in a strained attitude, with fists clenched, and if he moved them back and fro instead of across his chest in short jerky fashion, and inclined forward instead of throwing his head right back when making a finishing effort, he might have been a little greater than he is. It was these very evident defect?, and the lack of rhythm in his arm action that causes me to say that his style is novice-like and ungainly. His leg action is quite good, and his feet.travel low and gracefully with great rapidity and evenness. , . SOME COMPARISONS. 1 aiso claimed that Toian was unable to" hold" his'form, which was patchy and unreliable. The' guide I had for making such an ajserjion waslhe form displayed by him while in Australia. Surely his in-and-out running here justified that conclusion, iHe beat Austin Robertson over 75 yards, and then Robertson turned the tables in the 130 yards,- and Tolan easily won the furlong. A very short while after, Tom Roberts completely turned the tables over those very same distances. Prior to these matches, his form was so erratic that it completely baffled the judgment of Bill McManus and other critics. I also said that, on an ayerage, I did not consider him superior to either Tom Roberts or Austin Robertson. That is my opinion. However, comparing him thus is neither belittling" nor scathing, as these, two sprinters are right in the front row of the world's, best- Probably Tolan is the better of the three at a furlong, winch I consider his pet distance. I realise that different styles and carriage of the body fit different types. The late Jack . Donaldson, ran very erect, but his arm action was beautiful, and he made his finishing burst.with great balance and; precision, with eyes fixed on the goal and. head held square. Over the last ten yards his chest swelled forward slightly. With violent, but well-defined arm action, he would sweep like an eagle across the line like the artist he was. ■ ■ Proper balance, of course, is what should be arrived at, but good arm action is of the utmost importance. Take swimming, for example. It would be impossible for a first-rate breaststroke swimmer to beat a first-rate free-style swimmer. -This Comparison is quite a fair one, similar to comparing the propeller of an airship with that of a steamer. .. ." What I tried to do in writing previously was to champion the Australian adoption of style and system of training. What Eddie Tolan did was to herald the methods adopted' by the Americans. It seems quite clear to me that out of the few scanty millions -of Australian people have sprung up more than, our quota of really good sprinters. America, with her many millions of population, has certainly produced some great sprinters, too. Eddie Tolan is one of, them—probably the greatest of them all. However, if Mr. Bull were asked to name a dozen of the greatest sprinters of all time, I venture to predict that his- list would contain the names of more Australians than Americans. I know such would be the case if I had to make the selection, POSTLE IN DEFENCE. Mr. Bull compared me as a sprinter with the late Jack Donaldson. He spared me not at all, bringing under notice some of my weakest efforts, including my effort against Jack Marsh when I was suffering from the effects of a bad breakdown. •On that occasion I came to Melbourne from Western Australia only under threat of legal proceedings, as I had contracted to appear there. I was not fit to run. Mr. Bull charged me with being inconsistent, and intimated that my own form did not substantiate myj statement that the best Australian sprinters could hold their form for months and months. I can refute that charge because between 1903 and 1909 no one ever broke a worsted in front of me from even terms. During that time I ran the British champion, D. R. Day, over several distances, and won them all very easily. I ran scratch races, which were termed Australian championships, over distances ranging from 100 to 300 yards, and won them all with ridiculous ease. On every occasion I ran right away from the field. I won more heats and ran into more finals from absolute scratch—giving away heartbreaking starts —over that period of five years than any other mortal alive or dead. Thus I held my form and ran true for years and years. Many other sprinters I could mention ran consistently for years, too. Tim Banner during part of his career ran as true as steel for months and months. Mr. Bull says that my fastest running was in Melbourne, when racing Donaldson. I don't think so. I 1 ran very much faster at Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia. However, we were a very even match. At that time I was 31; Donaldson was 26. Before Donaldson had reached 31, Willie Applegarth, the English sprinter, beat him over both the 100 yards and 220 yards in the only two matches they ever raced. If I was regarded as being in my prime at 31, it is only reasonable to say that Donaldson was also in his prime when Applegarth twice defeated him. "MOST UNKINDEST CUT." Mr. Bull did not say how easjly I flcleatcd Donaldson, and Jlolway over

80 yards during these Melbourne runs, and how hard it was to separate us over both the 100 and 110 yards events. Nor did he say how I conceded Jack half a yard inside 50 yards and won by three yards in the official time of 4 15-16 sec, nor how utterly the same great runner failed to concede me half a yard over the full 100 yards, which I won in 9 2-ssec.

When referring to my New Zealand records, Mr. Bull did not say they were made in a match against Donaldson, and that I won the three distances quite easily.

Perhaps the most unkindest cut of all was to say that Donaldson was my master at every department of the game. Now the beginning is a most important part of sprinting. To say that Donaldson was my master in that department is not even honest. Under the sting of such a sweeping statement I may justly be excused for throwing modesty to the winds in saying that, provided Donaldson and I were sound, and that we raced one thousand tunes over any distance up to 80 yards, I would win one thousand times. Such would also be the result against any other runner of my time.

Mr. Bull has given much of his life to the interest of athletics and the sport has benefited considerably through his efforts. His memory for dates and deeds is very accurate and some of his comment was most interesting. I wish he had been just a little more friendly and not quite so rash. I can quite understand that he is proud to have been closely associated with Eddie Tolan during the American's visit here, and admire him greatly for sticking to his friend. However, I certainly think he quite misunderstood my motive in writing what I did, as I never thought it would cause displeasure or bring "a kick" from any quarter.