AMATEUR ATHLETICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23330, 23 October 1937, Page 18

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

SERVICES OF COACH SECURED AMERICAN OLYMPIC REPRESEN, TATIVE 0 (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 22. As the result of enthusiastic work by Mr B. Sutherland (Wellington) in co-operation with the officials of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and the Wellington Centre athletes in this and other centres are to have the services for the season, of a first-class American coach in Mr Fitch, an Olympic Games representative. He is to sail on November 10, and will arrive at Auckland on November 26. The proposal was first made by Mr Sutherland on his return from a trip to the United States and Japan. In the latter country he attended the Japan-American race and field meeting, and interviewed a number of American coaches, including Dean CromwelL who is recognised as the foremost coach in the world, and the producer of more Olympic winners than any other man. After seeing the Americans in action and learning something of their coaching methods, Mr Sutherland became convinced that athletics in New Zealand would never make progress unless, a first-class American coach was secured. He kept in touch with Dean Cromwell, who is at present athletics coach at the University of Southern California, and with Dr Campbell, who occupied the same position for about seven years, and is now a lecturer. He also received keen support from the president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association (Mr R. W. McVilly), the council, and also the Wellington Centre. A sub-committee of the Wellington Centre met on Thursday night, and decided to embark on a scheme to raise the necessary finance under the direction of Mr T. W. Leslie. Fitch represented America at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. In the semifinal of the 400 Metres he created a world record of 47 4-ssec, but' this was bettered by l-ssec in the final by Liddell (Great Britain), who won the second semi-final in 48 l-ssec.