New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
Swedish Athletes Broke
Many Records in 1917
Bolin and lander Star Per-
formers on Track and
Hackner With Javelin
By A. G. Cavagnaro

Under the tutelage Of Ernie Hjert-
berg, the track and field athletes of
Sweden enjoyed their best year in 1917.
The progress OF the men under Hjert-
berg since his coaching duties began
in 1914 is clearly manifest in the es-
tabishing Of twenty-five new Swedish
records, four of which were world
marks, during the last twelve months.
The remarkable strides made by the
Swedish athletes is certain to make
them strong factors in international
competition, when such meetings are
revived after the war. Hjertberg is
expecting much from the product of
the Swedish Public Schools League,
which is on par with the schoolboy
body in this city.
Three World Records
John Bolin and A. Zander, whose
great fea.s against the American team
that competed in the Scandinavian
countries in 1915 are recalled by ath-
letes here, were the outstanding stars
among the Swedish athletes. Zander
created no less than six new marks.
Three of them were world records, made
at 800 metres 1854 7-10); 1000 metres
(5:31) and 5000 metres (8:35 800. In
smashing the 900 metre record Zander
ran the distance alone and clipped 1-5
seconds from the standard formerly
/ held by Abel R. Kiviat, the American
/ runner.
The three Swedish national records
set by lander were at one mile, in
4:17 $40; 5000 metres, IN 1859 6-1o,
and three miles, in 1898 7-10. He was
also member Of two relay teams that
set new time FOR Swedish records.
| Vnn1yo Uor bo
was the other athlete to set new
world record. This occurred when he
threw the l2-foot stick distance OF
ia 281Q0 metres. Hjertberg has al
ways looked upon Heckner as the
greatest javelin thrower the world has
yet known.
Bolin, who shows to better advantage
at middle distances, established two
new Swedish records, covering 400
metres in the remarkably fast time of
0:50 and 500 metres in 1855 2-10. Bolin
has displayed great development under
Hjertberg, also showing up we'll in
hurdling and broad jumping, at which
Zander is also a performer of credit.
Other New Marks
The other new Swedish marks set
were: Sixty metres, COS 9-10; 200
metres, 0.22 10; 40 yards, O.5O $40:
100 metre hurdle, 0.56 Ito; 400 metre
relay race, four man team, 0.43 1-1o;
500 metre relay race, four man team.
1871 l-lo; 1900 metre relay race, four
man team, 1923 $40; 5000 metre relay
race. four man team, 1900; rannins
HIGH jump, lS9 metres; pole vault.
, > SS3; discus throwing, both hands,
S3:lG metres: 1000 metre medley re-
lay race (first man, 100 metres; second,
200 metres; third, SEQ metres, and
fourth, 400 metres), 2:15.
Although it has been the slogan o.,
e the Amateur Athletic Union to encour-
t age track and field athletics among the
Younger element, it has failed to Bring
r about this result by not fostering n
/ greater number Of events for novices.
{ In its announcement of the pro-
t grammes for the bi-weekly meets, the
] committee has provided only four races
r for those youths who have never won a
prie. Not alone has the fault been
r noticed in races al short distances, but
: also in 'cross-country running.
Abel R. Kivat, the, onetime national
one-mile champion, viii make his re-
= turn to athletics 1t the Millrose games
= IN Madison Square Garden on January
%. Kiviat VIII START IN the 1900 yard
( race Cor enlisted men and will also run
. as anchor man on the relay team that
b. y. viii represent the 5th Company of the
( 18th Regiment, New York Coast De-
II II fence, now al Fort Hamilton,
q kviat, who was declared a profess
j. sional in 1915, has been practising for
the last three weeks, but as yet has
y fears that he is not in his best form
He is particularly anxious to compete
d cause Of his lack Of training has re.
l. Trained from, eutorinp tho contest