ATHLETICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 5

ATHLETICS

AMERICAN COACH ARRIVES By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, November 26. Tall, young, quietly spoken, Mr Alfred L. Fitch, the American athlete engaged as coach by the Wellington centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, arrived at Auckland this morning by the Monterey. He was warmly welcomed by representatives of the athletic world. He is a New Yorker, but spent many of his 24 years in California, graduating last year at the University of California, where he studied business administration and coaching methods... He said that in many American universities physical education was a recognised line of study. Football, basketball and baseball are sports in which Mr Fitch has participated, in addition to specialising in track and field athletics. He was a special assistant coach to Dean Cromwell, the American Olympic coach, last year. As a member of the Olympic team I Mr Fitch represented America in the | relay events. He said among promising ] new talent in the States was Louis Zamperini, a Southern California freshman, the first American to finish in the 5000 metres event at Berlin. Jesse Owens seemed engaged mainly in the entertainment world.

“I think your countryman Jack Lovelock, is certainly the highest type of athlete one could expect to find.” said Mr Fitch. “He is a real gentleman, and a real sportsman. His running seems effortless. He said in America a definite running style was adopted for each different type of physique. In general it was accepted that the body should be held forward just beyond the centre of gravity, with the head up a little.

Cinders and clay surface tracks were widely adopted in America. Because they allowed water to drain away easily, they were probably the most suitable tracks for any country where rain was frequent. He had been on very few good grass tracks. While shy of commenting on women’s participation in the more strenuous forms of sport, Mr Fitch said it depended on the individual. ,<e agreed that women could not be expected to reach the prowess of men in competitive track events. The New Zealand All Blacks, he said, were by no means unknown in American sporting circles. Rugby was gaining in popularity in California. He declared that there was no reason why New Zealand should not produce athletes equal to any in the world.