IRON MAN WITH NERVES

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 8

IRON MAN WITH NERVES

MATTHEWS BEFORE HIS RACE HIS STORY OF THE RECORD WARD HARD TO BEAT. The “Iron Man” of distance runners, C. H. Matthews, of New Zealand, new Australian and Empire three-miles record-holder, had to fight down stage fright before his spectacular victory, comments the Sydney Sun

and Guardian. He could not look at the starting line. He left the track, went to the furthest side of the ground, and rested

among the spectators. Just before the start, he took his place at the line. “When I heard the gun, I was right,” he said. Thirty thousand spectators agreed with him. From the first few strides he became a relentless machine, consuming distance. “The worst part was the suspense of waiting for the start,” he said. “I warmed up in sandshoes, then had to go away from the line. “I couldn’t have any confidence if I didn’t. “I came back to the line and checked over all my gear. “If laces had been too lose they might have come undone and tripped

If they had been too tight, I would have been crippled before the end of the run.

“The Englishman, Ward, seemed to be the hardest man to beat. “But I thought that if I could keep a solid pace throughout I would - beat him.

When the gun went I knew I was in better form than ever before. At the end of the mile some of the field had dropped off. “I could hear Ward’s footfalls behind me. At the second last lap it was getting pretty hard. I knew I could not let up. “At the beginning of the last lap I knew I would have to do better than ever in my life. I passed the stand and Ward started to come round. “I could hear him getting closer, and then saw him from the corner of my eye. I said ‘He must not come round,’ and went just a little harder. I knew that once in the last lap I could finish fast. “ “Ward dropped back, but in another 200 yards he came again. I beat him back again and then I knew I had won. I knew that I coulcU not be beaten.” Hats—straw-boaters—flew into the air as Matthews broke the tape. The New Zealand team in the competitors’ stand formed itself into a cheer squad. It was the fastest three miles Matthews has ever done. His new record was 13min. 59 3-5 sec., compared with the previous Empire record of 14min. 27.45ec., and the world record of 13min. 50.6 sec.