A CHAMPION SPRINTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 62

A CHAMPION SPRINTER.

MR ARTHUR DUFFEY. TTo understand the meaning of a record requires the mind of an astronomer, which seizes upon exact instants out~~of eternity. the uninitiated onlooker in the grand Jstand who knows not the value of instants » second seems a very small space of time, knd a, paltry fraction something to be After the stop-watch came into Existence it seemed that so human machine £ould cover 100 yard's in less than lOsec, *nd the man who could run it in that time Was looked upon as a wonder — which in iruth he was. Trained men hurled themselves at the record; they spurted and fought; they broke tendons and strained but that record stood an" intangible Eomething which v the human machine could cot break. When John Owen, jun., at au athletic jmeeting in Washington some 15 years ago broke the 100 yards world's record by cover'dng the distance in 9 4-ssec it was thought /that the limit of human power had been reache3T"but it was left to Arthur Duffey, of Georgetown University, to do what was said to be the impossible — break 9 4-ssec. ?This the famous American sprinter who is io compote at the Otago Centre's meeting )6n Saturday next accomplished at Berkeley Oval on May 31, 1902, doing the distance in 9 3-ssec, which at present stands the world's .unbeaten record. ■Speaking of this record-breaking feat, •Ihiffey said, so far as ho knew, only one man thought of such a thing. That man •was his coloured trainer, who remarked in the dressing room : " Mistah Duffey. you'se arunnm.' to-day de way vou'se never ran befoah. I believe you's just goin' to bus' 3at record." Before the visiting athletes commenced

When John Owen, jun., at an athletic jineeting in Washington some 15 years ago broke the 100 yards world's record by cover'dng the distance in 9 4-ssee it was thought /that the limit of human power had been reache3T"but it was left to Arthur Duffey, of Georgetown University, to do what was said to be the impossible — break 9 4-ssec. ?This the famous American sprinter who is io compote at the Otago Centre's meeting )6n Saturday next accomplished at Berkeley Oval on May 31, 1902, doing the distance in 9 3-ssec, which at present stands the world's .unbeaten record. Speaking of this record-breaking feat, •Ihiffey said, so far as ho knew, only one man thought of such a thing. That man •was his coloured trainer, who remarked in the dressing room : " Mistah Duffey. you'se arunnm.' to-day de way vou'se never ran befoah. I believe you's just goin' to bus' 3at record." Before the visiting athletes commenced

training at Carisbrook yesterday afternoo.i a representative of this paper had a few minutes' interesting conversation with Mr Arthur Duffey, the American sprinter anJ 100 yards world's record-holder. Youthful in appearance, Mr Duffey does not look his age, which is 25. A trifle over sft ?m in height, he weighs in condition about 9st 61b, but is at present a few pounds above himself. The famous American sprinter has a round, good-natured face ; a fine head, surmounted by light hair, which is parted scrupulously down the middle. The victor of very many contests, he is nevertheless a man of nerves — the calm confidence supposed to be the property of victors is not his. -The secret of Duffey's 'success as a runner one would say lies in his wo.iderful nerve force and his ability to concentrate it all in a supreme effort, and h:s careful and systematic training. In reply to a question, Duffey stated that he first started running in 1896, at Worcester Academy, Mass., United States 01 America when, as a schoolboy he startlea the athletic world by running the 100 yards in lOsec. In 1898-99 he won all the sprint events from 50 yards up to 100 yards at the indoor meetings. At this time Duffey also took up polo-vaulting and hurdling, but gradually excelled in sprinting. After winning all the schools' championships from 50 yards up to 100 yards Dnffey was prevailed upon t!Tgo up for the big American championships, which bring together the flower of the American athletes. In the year 1899 Duffey defeated B. J. Wefers, the then 100 yards champion, doing the chs tance in 9 4-ssec. It was shortly after this that Duffey went to study law at the Georgetown University. This brought him amongst the pick of the world's s P» n *^ for Duffey reckons that the fastest men over sprint distances to-day are the athletes of the American colleges. In 1902, at tn3 inter - collegiate championships, Duttey created that marvellous performance previously referred to, which stands as a W Ask'ed r ib°out draining, Duffey remarked to the interviewer that he believed m doing light work for a start. In the opening ot the season he begins with a little jogging, only a little to limber up the muscles to get them into shape— not enough to make his movements slow. Then he practises starts in an easy way, with now and then sprints of 30 yards and 40 yards. The time ' epent by many sprinters in running over the course is consumed by Buffey in the art of , " getting away." . I Referring to the track at Carisbrook, i Duffey, who prefers cinders to grass, stated that with about a week to get accustomed to the climate he would he able to do 10 seconds on it, and anticipated doing even time before leaving New Zealand. "I can par it no greater compliment," said Duffey, •"than to liken it to Berkeley Oval, where I created the world's record." Sprinters run as far as possible on the points of their toes. Duffey wanted the toes of a ballet dancer, and undergoing a regular system of training by springing on to the points of his toes for an hour each day in a gymnasium he acquired the art of almost walking on his toes. Duffey believes in sleep* and also believes in training so as not to expos© the muscles to a severe strain. Asked about diet, the little American said one' time he studied what he ate, " but not now — I eat what agrees with me—^-plain, wholesome food." Referring to the difference between the English sprinter and the American, Mr Duffey said his manner of starting seemedi to puzzle his English competitors, but today in England the average runner has adiopted his start. I have been repeatedlyasked concerning the merits of the ArnericaA and the English sprinters, and I must say that the Yankee is far ahead, though if he should go to England in most cases I he- would not win. Racing through the I British Isles as I have for the last four or five seasons, I found that only on extraerdinary occasions was I able to maintain the same form as I displayed in my own country. Probably no other influence affects the American abroad as does the climate. - When told that the sprint races here were started by the " worsted system" Duffey received a great shock. " Why." said' the little American. " I never ev&n heard of it before. When I £r© back to America and tell them that in Dunedin they started me behind a barrier of worsted they will laugh at me. Do you know." continued Duffey, "that little bit of wool across the track is going to put me off the race. If I have to think about breaking the tape before the raco" I'll never be able to break it at the business end. Well, at anyr'ate, it will be something new, and something to tell them over home," and the genial American trotted off to the dressing room.