EASY WIN

Southland Times, Issue 25313, 17 June 1935, Page 7

EASY WIN

LOVELOCK’S MILE EXCELLENT TIME RECORDED EIGHT YARDS MARGIN (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.45 p.m.) Princeton, New Jersey, June 15. The ease with which Lovelock won the mile of the century was this outstanding feature of to-day’s run, and not the time of 4min 11.2 seconds which, although excellent, was far before the record which Cunningham holds of 4 min 6.7 seconds.

It was swelteringly hot in the Palmer stadium but the New Zealander did not seem to mind and came in as fresh.as the proverbial daisy. A crowd of 40,000 cheered as the six runners left the mark. Glen Dawson led over the first quarter with Ctmningham, and Bonthron pressing him, followed by Venske while * Lovelock was willing to let them set the pace at the start. In the second quarter Cunningham took the lead, followed by Bonthron and Lovelock as the other starters dropped back. Lovelock kept his position easily until the turn for the home stretch when he let loose with a burst of speed that neither Cunningham nor Bonthron had in reserve and crossed the finishing line a good eight yards ahead of Bonthron who by a supreme effort passed the fading Cunningham. It appeared to the spectators that Lovelock could have made much better time and perhaps broken the record, but he followed his usual tactics of racing only to win, which he easily did.

NEW ZEALANDER’S TRIUMPH A BATTLE OF TACTICS. (By “Spike.”) To have forecast the result of this race would have been difficult—even for the most complacent of armchair critics—for Cunningham, Lovelock and Bonthron are undoubtedly the three greatest milers the world has known, and this was the first occasion on which all three have met. Bonthron had previously competed against both Cunningham and Lovelock singly, but the mile record-holder and the ex-record-holder had hitherto been matched only in the minds of those who had visualized such a race as took place on Saturday. And now that Lovelock has definitely sealed his claim to be regarded as the champion of champions critics will reach hastily fo? their pens and proceed to indite triumphant “I told you so’s” to the world at large. Their virile, prose will have to be a trifle exaggerated, however, for most entertained a sneaking suspicion that on the day Cunningham would beat the New Zealander. _nere was some grounds for this belief since the American hai the more imposing record. His list of nerformances since he first came into prominence by running fifth in the 1932 Olympic Games read as follows:—Mile (indoors), 4min 11 l-ssec, 4min 1. 4-5 sec, 4min Msec, 4mir. 8 3-10 sec (an American record); 1500 metres (indoors), 3min 52 3-10 sec (a record); mile (outdoors), 4min 12 7-10 sec 4min 1_ 4-ssec, 4min llsec and 4min 6 7-10 sec (world’s records). Again, Cunningham is recognized as closely approaching the ideal middle distance runner—one who covers each lap at approximately the same even pace. His times when he broke Lovelock’s record and established the present figu-es of 4min 6 7-10 sec for the mile, bear testimony to this:—First lap, 62 9-10 sec; second lap, 63sec; third lap, 61 8-10 sec; fourth lap, 59 l-10sec. He was the first great runner to speed up on the third lap—the crucial point of any hard-run mile. Lovelock’s figures were: 61 2-ssec, 62 2-ssec, 65 l-10sec, 58 9-10 sec. As these figures testify, the New Zealander does not display the same mechanical perfection in his running. He is intent not so much on running to a schedule as to beating the other fellow. Not : bad plan this one would think, but to those who cherish the hope that one day a miler will be produced who can cover each of the four laps in 60sec, Cunningham’s method is infinitely more appealing. There was some reason, therefore, for the optimism of American writers in asserting that the odds favoured Cunningham, but on the day something appears to have happened to their favourite. On the other hand, those who knew Lovelock and his capabilities remembered that’he always rises to the occasion. When he first came into the public eye by establishing new figures for the three-quarter mile, critics wagged sagacious heads and talked vaguely about that distance not being recognized. The Rhodes Scholar’s answer was to shatter the British ’le i ecord and then on July 15, P 33, to follow this up by covering the mile in the then world record time of 4min 7 3-5 sec. To the people who remembered this, Lovelock’s wir. on Saturday would be no gre it surprise. American critics also asserted that the race would result in Cunningham’s record of 4min 6 7-10 sec being lowered. When champions meet, however, it is not inevitable that records go by the board. In middle distance running especially the race usually becomes a battle of tactics with time a secondary consideration. The comparatively slow time of 4min 11 2-ssec recorded on Saturday would appear to bear out this contention. It also reveals that Lovelock ran the race to suit himself and forced the other four contestants into abandoning their own scheme*—reports

had stated that it vzas Cunningham’s intention to go all out from the pistol to the tape. Yet what a contest it must have been with three race generals of the calibre each striving to run according to his own pet system! It says much for the New Zealander that on the day he proved himself the best tac’ician.

At the time of writing only the placings and the time for the race are known, but judging by the past performances of the three chief contestants, I would assume that som ring went amiss with Cunningham’s usual system of .tinning to schedule anc that the finish was fou.'ht out between two strong sprinters in Lovelock and Bonthron. And what a finish that would be! As usual, Bonthron woull probably be leading with 200 yards to go when the slightly-buil - New Zeal.nder would suddenly assert himself to gain victory by one of those electrifying finishing bursts for which ‘ e has become famous. Indeed a great race and a triumrJ' for Lovelock.