CHAMPION ATHLETES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 18

CHAMPION ATHLETES

WORLD'S GREATEST MILER ITALIAN RIVALS LOVELOCK By defeating Glen Cunningham and Bill Bonthron so comfortably over a mile at Princeton on June 15 J. E. Lovelock, the brilliant New Zealander, appears to have the measure of the two Americans, and there remains now only one well-known athleto who seems capable of defeating him, and that is Becalli, the Italian. Lovelock has now met Cunningham, holder of the world's mile record of 4m G 7-10s, on two occasions and honours are even. Jn the final ot the 1500 metres—l2o yards short of a mile—at the Olympic Games Cunningham finished fourth and Lovelock seventh. The only other occasion upon which they met was on June 15. Lovelock has raced Bonthron four times over a mile and has defeated him on three occasions. On the two occasions on which Lovelock has raced Becalli the Italian has been the victor. The first occasion was at Los Angeles in 1932 and the second over 1500 metres in a special match race at Milan, just after Lovelock had broken the mile record in 1033. In this event Becalli set a terrific pace from the start and he sustained it right to the finish, Lovelock being unable to produce his usual sprint finish because of the early pace that was set. Becalli established a now 1500 metres record which, however, has since been broken by Bonthron. With Lovelock in his present superb trim, and Becalli's form this season unknown* it is impossible to say which is really the world's champion. The question will probably not be decided until the 1500 metres is run at the Olympic Games at Berlin next year, when the race should bo the event of the tournament, more psppeinllv if Lovelock, Ueoalli, Cunningham and JJonthrovL axe all in the Held.