ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 12 April 1911, Page 9

ATHLETICS.

Champion G. A. Wheatley. HOW HE TRAINS. Gregory A. Wheatley, the Australasian middle - distance champion runner, has been selected to represent Australasia at the Festival of Empire sports, ot be held in connection with the Coronation celebrations next June and July. Born at St. Kilda, 27 years ago, Wheatley stands sft. 10J. in height, but on the running track he looks well over 6ft., and is known in all other States and New Zealand as the “ Tall Victorian.” His weight is fist. 111 b. in running costume, but he only scales a few pounds more when out of training. He is a non-smoker. He has for some years l>een among the leading pedestrians of Australia, and has won innuemrable championships and other events. His performances include 880 yards in Imin. 56} sec., on Exhibition track. Melbourne, March 18, 1910 (Australasian record), 1000 yards in 2min. 19 2-ssec. on the- Melbourne Grammar School Ground, April 15, 1910 (Australasian record); and one mile in 4min. 23

sec on the Sydney Cricket Ground, November 9, 1905 (Australian rev-ord. Be is the hold: r of the halfmile and mite, Queensland; half mile and mile. New !*outh Wales; and halfmile Victorian records. METHODS OF TRAINING. Wheatley is very thorough in his training methods. His hindquarters are at the North .Melbourne recreation ground, which lias a grass track with three laps to the mile. ” Charlie ” -Sawyer, a well-known football trainer, has charge of the Essenden Harrier and other pedestrians. When training for the half mile and mile championships, Wheatley considers that three montlis’ steady preparation is necessary. For the first three weeks he puts in three or four nights a week, his work consisting of three laps of steady work, in order to cultivate a comfortable and easy stride, which, in his opinion, is a most important desideratum. “ Once a runner has developed a stride that is easy to himself,” he remarked, “his training work becomes a pleasure.” Commencing the fourth week, he increases his paee somewhat, and this continues for the next three weeks. By this time he is feeling fit, and his trainer gives him “breaking” work, with occasional “ runs through.” Runs from a quarter of a mile to 600 yards at top speed are also undertaken. Being handicapped by not being able to race in company with runners who can stay more than a good quarter of a mile with him, ho often arranges to have a relay of men to take him around over the full distance. He frequently trains with a whippet. He is conceded a start of 30 yards in a 130 yards sprint, and the dog generally manages to beat him on the post. This, he states, is one of the best aids he receives in his training, as it improves his sprinting powers considerably. Wheatley is not a fowl faddist. Ho believes in eating good, wholesome food, and does not consider it necessary for him to curtail his menu in any way, owing to the fact that he is always in good condition, and puts on very little weight when off the tracks. Touching on the question of diet, Wheatley humorously remarked that when he and a number of other champions were competing at a big meeting in Bendigo some years ago, an “oldtimer, who was watching the races from the arena, said. “ Look here, you young fellows, you don’t know how to train, or even diet yourselves for these championships. “ What are your methods?” inquired Wheatley. “ Dry toast and water,” replied the old ped. “Well, what have you won?” asked the Essendon runner. “ I’ve never won a race in my life,” said the veteran; “hut 1 know that dry toast and water is the best stuff for a chap to train on.” “He was a poor advertisement for this diet,” remarked 'Wheatley, with a smile. "So 1 never follow ed his advice.” TACTICS IN RACING. Wheatley does not believe in making the paee in a race. He sizes up the field, and then keeps in a handy’ position until the bell. If he has a formidable opponent he makes his run about a furlong from home; but if the competitors are not up to his standard he challenges them about 50 yards from home. Ho efers to win just comfortably, and is pposed to “grand stand” finishes, as they tend to belittle the other men in the race. In his opinion the tracks in Australia are against fast times, but the Sydney Cricket Ground he considers to be the fastest. The cinder track at Carisbrook ground. Dunedin, is a very good one. Ho looks upon the .Melbourne Cricket ground as being somewhat treacherous for racing. One day it has plenty of life in it, and on another day appears to be dead Nature has endowed Wheatley with a fine physique. He runs with a perfect stride, while his movements on the track represent the very “ poetry of motiUh.” His performances prove conclusively that he is the finest middle-distance runner in Australia at present.