BOOST FOR ATHLETICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 252, 23 October 1937, Page 10

BOOST FOR ATHLETICS

AMERICAN COACH SERVICES FOR SEASON [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 22. As a result of enthusiastic work by Mr. B. Sutherland, of Wellington, in co-operation with 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 firstclass American coach in Mr. Fitch, 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 field meeting and interviewed a number of American coaches, including Dean Cromwell, recognised as the foremost coach in the world and producer of more Olympic winners than any other man. After seeing the Americans hi 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 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 -’b-committee of the latter body met on Thursday night and decided to embark on a scheme to raise the necessary finance under the direction or M". T. W. Leslie.

Mr. Fitch represented America at the 1924 Olympic Games at Paris. In a semi-final of the 400 metres he created a world record of 47 4-ssec. but it was bettered by l-ssec. in the final by Liddell (Great Britain), who won the second semi-final in 48 l-ssec.