THE MILE RUN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 100, 30 April 1938, Page 4

THE MILE RUN

WHEN WILL THE RECORD BE FOUR MINUTES

GREATNESS OF CUNNINGHAM

BEST MIL,ER OF ALL TIME

Among the leading topics for discussion among track and field athletes and their followers for some time have been the questions as to just how low the record for the onemile run will be set before it reaches its final resting place, and if . there will ever be a runner who will he able lo bring it down to four minutes or better.

Some of the closest students of track and field sports have been asserting that it is too much to expect a runner ever to touch four minutes, while there are others who believe that it will be done eventually, although they do not feel that any of the present-day leaders in that event will accomplish it. Early in March the International Amateur Athletic Federation recognised the 4min. 6.4 sec., made by Sydney C. Woodersen of the Blackheath Harriers, London, and when' this new mark was given the stamp of approval, it was figured that it would remain on the books for some days to come. At that time some ventured to predict that more than one of the records approved would be bettered before the next 12 months had become history. True it is that none of those marks has been broken as yet since Woodersen ran his mile outdoors; but it is quite evident that one of the present-day milers can better the mark for that event whenever he gets the opportunity to go after it on an outdoor track under suitable conditions.

When Glenn V. Cunningham, formerly of the University of Kansas, and now representing the New York Curb Exchange A.A., covered the mile on the Dartmouth College indoortrack at Hanover, N.H., on March 3 in 4min. 4.45ec., he ran that distance faster than any human being had ever done before. Up to that time the best indoor mark had been 4min. B.4sec., made by this same Cunningham, and the fact that he bettered that record by four full seconds shows that he needs only the opportunity to lower the indoor and outdoor marks now recognised.

As to whether his performance Is entitled to or will receive official recognition by the A.A.U. or 1.A.A.F., we are not concerned, writes the Christian Science Monitor. According to J. Frank Facey, chairman of the registration committee of the New England Association of the A.A.U., there appears to be no reason why the mark should not be accepted; but even should it be found that some technicality had not been observed, the performance clearly shows Cunningham’s ability. If not recognised as a record, it was indeed a “noteworthy performance,” and should receive due recognition. Despite the fact that Cunningham has never won an Olympic 1500-metre title and has been defeated by other runners, it must, now be admitted that he is one of, if not in fact, the greatest miler that the athletic world has ever seen. Although he has been running in championship events for some eight years, he is now running faster than ever before. It was in 1934 that he made his world's indoor record, and when a runner can better a mark four years later by four full seconds, it certainly shows that he is one of the greatest. Last February he established a new indoor 1500-metre world record of 3min. 48.45ec., which, if carried on to the mile distance, would result in a 4min. ssec. mile. On March 3 was also the eighth time that Cunningham has run a mile in 4min. lOsec. or better, and such a performance has been accomplished only 18 times in track and field history.

Next spring Princeton University expects to hold another of its famous invitation track and field meets. On

the programme will be the one-mile run, and it is to bo hoped that among the starters will be Cunningham, Woodersen, Archie San Romani and Gene Venzke. If they are all there and conditions are favourable, Cunningham will have his chance to erase all present one-mile records and turn out a mark which will not only have to be accepted by the athletic authorities hut which will be closer to fourminutes than any mark that has as yet received official recognition.