The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-27
CUNNINGHAM WILL | BE NEAREST TO NURMI AS MILLER
Robertson, Penn Track Coach, Grooming Venz-
 ke for MillrOse Games

| s 60NV AN0b AtApG SAO AAN0AatRsNee e~0AO Finn, set the stage for the record breaking performances of the worlds inilers during the past few years, in the opinion of Lawson Robertson, track coach at the Unt- versity of Pennsylvania and United States Olympic coach. Robertson Is grooming Gene Venzke, Pnnsylvania sophomore, for the Wanamaker mile in the Millross games next Saturday night. The Boyertown miller will meet Glenn Cunningham and oth- CTS in the final race for the Rod- man Wanamaker Cup. A tri- umph for Venzke will result in his gaining permanent possession of
 "Nurmi's mechanical system of running in which he kept a steady pace from the start of a race to It's finish proved that records could be broken without the fitful jerks and spurts that seemed to be a part Of this country's athletes running of a lmile race," said Robertson.
 Past Procedure
 "Milers used to run speedy | first quarter, slow down a bit Tor the second 44O, read newspaper during the third quarter and then spurt with all they had left in the last quarter. There was little idea of pace with the result that stead- mess was entirely lacking.
 r"To-day the best of the milers maintain a steady pace from the start of a race to the tape. The re- suit Is better times and much more interesting races. Present oay runners have learned the technique of pace. They know how to dis tribi1te pace through four quarters of a mile race"
 Robertson believes that Glenn Cunningham, of Kansas, has the best physical makeup of any of the present day milers and that If 4.06 mile is ever run, he will be the one to run 1t.
 Cunningham is mature, has the speed and the strength to turn in a record breaking mile," is Rob- ertson's belief. The fact that the Kansan can run 8 half mile in less than l minute 51 seconds and his competitive experience against the | worlds greatest mile runners, is proof, according to Robertson, that Cunnin. ham has all the attributes necessary to eclipse the mark made by Jack Lovelock last sum- mer, in his race with Bonthron, of Princeton. | Robertson was asked if he thought a record would be estab- Mshed if Luigi Beccali, of Italy: Jules Ladoumegue,s of France; Love1ock, of England and Cun- ningha ., Bonthron and Venzke, of this country, were started in the same race, and his answer was that he doubted 1t.
 with such a galaxy of runners opposing each other. the tendency lwould be to slow down the race be-
 cause each would be watching the
 other. There would be consider. able jostling for place at the start
 and a bit of showing and pushing
 on the turns. A two or three man
 race would result in a better per-
 formance."
 1 Hot Weather Best
 The ideal time for a record
 breaking performance Is the sum. mer. Robertson believes. Tracks are fin better condition, the wind resistance Is less than in the spring and the athlete should be in better physical condition. Intercollegiate
 meets in the spring do not con- tribute to record-breaking per.
 formances because of the soggy
 condition of most tracks. This Is
 particularly true of the eastern
 section of the country.
 Indoor running is more condu.
 cive to fast racing because the
 temperature of the building is
 usually even, the tracks are firmei land have more spring to them thar
 the cinGer paths outdoors.
 Cross country running in the fal
 is beneficial to mile runners. says
 Robertson. "Cross- running , Is good for an athlete" said Rob.
 ertson. "It builds up endurance
 stamina and strengthens the hear
 and lungs. It Is not a boys game and young men should not partici pate in 1t when the distance is ovel two miles,"
 Robertson plans to start Venzk' . in the New York A. C., the Nation al A. A. U. indoor championship and the indoor intercollegiate mile races during the current season The Red and Blue miller will parti I cipate in the college championship :, for the first time. He has run ii the other meets and holds the rla
 tional indoor 15o0 meter title.