The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-08-10

nurulefS or all tlfnc.
"Owens probably Is the hrSt truly
natural born athlete, remarked
Snyder, 34-yaer. Ohio State Uni
Versity track and field coach, aS he
departed for Berlin. "Hc Is as grace
fui as q gazelle. Ills speed rs like the
bursting Of shot from o gun.
"When Owens first showed up In
Columbus there was little we could
do other than TO improve his start
Ing position and stride q little"
Only q natural athlete could &C.
complish the amazing feats OF
Owens.
80 outstanding Ia the Cleveland
flyer that the track and field world
confidently anticipated his triple
Victory In Berlin. In view OF his
epochai afternoon In the Western
Conference meet ut Ann Arbor q
year ago last spring and numerous
toher phenomenal performances, II
was expected that he would set q
new olympic standard In each In
sweeping the 100 and 200-meter
dashes and the broad jump.
He broke three world records and
oqualed another IN Michigan sta
dlum, where tho 220.yard hurdles
was his curtin number.
Snyder Able 10 Illustrate
Snyder, who accompanied Owens
and the American team TO Germany
n one aof the few mentors who can
don track toys and toe the mark
with his pupils. He stu con hurdle,
throw the discus, and do b feet ii
inches IN the high Jump.
Snyder started track and field
work at Canton Mckinley High
school at Canton, O., where nc was
q star.
The school had no timbers TO top,
80 he made O set OF standards,
erected them In his yard, and prac-
ticed nightly until his feet became
leaden weights.
Snyder transferred from Dart
mouth 10 Ohio State In 1915.
During the war, l.. ~, as the
coach Is known TO Buckeye track
and field men, became q member OF
the United States Aviation Corps at
Carlston, Fla, Following the war he
became q stunt man with q flying
circus. This satisfied TO some extent
his passion for speed.
Returning to Ohio State In 1923.
Snyder played halfback and punted
for the Scarlet and Gray. He fin-
ished the following year as Western
Conference hurdle champion. He
placed In four vecnts In the Penn
Relays that spring-the 100 and 440-
yard hurdles, high jump, and the
hop. step and Jump.
Snyder became assistant Ohio
state coach In 1925 and head man
In 1892, as DR.. Frank Riley Castle
man took on multiplicity Of duties.
Snyder Is a genial fellow. He Is Of
German descent, but has an Irish
personality.
Coach Fits Work 10 Athlete
George Simpson was one OF Sny-
der's prize products. He was another
natural with only minor flaws TO be
ironed out. A lanky, driving type OF
sprinter, with failing arm action his
every move spelled power, and, as In
the case Of Owens, the Ohio State
coach let him run his own race. l..
N. did little more than see that
Simpson and Owens were In condi-
ton.
Running improves running, so
Snyder puts his charges through
plenty Of practice.
Owens, who runs "like melting
butter In hot skillet" was allowed
10 go only three-fourths Of his dis
lance ut top speed. He never trained
for the hurdles, and only worked on
his highly geared striding for the
broad jump. Simpson ran full dis
tances. He worked like truck
horse because that suited him.
A list Of the more renowned ath-
letes coached by Snyder would In
clude Pete Rasmus, world record
deus thrower: Howie Kriss, dash
man: Dave Albritton and Mel Walk
nine seconds. The United states
finished second.
Compensation for the defeat came
when the United states girls quar-