The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-09-29
MENTOR SPURS OWENS TO TRY
 FOR 9.3 MARK
Coach Who Developed Him Says BrOadjumping Re-
 duces Speed
BY HENRY B. HENSON

United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Cleveland-(UP)-The coach who found" lessee Owens believes the hero of the Berlin Olympics yet may pull down. the 100-yard dash record to 93 seconds.
 If the Buckeye Bullet can bal ance his stride better, that phe- no,nenal time may be possible, in the opinion of Charley Riley, Cleveland's grand old man of track" Nevertheless, Riley, who has groomed Jesse since ne was a barefoot lad in Fairmount Junior High, believes he is almost a per- feet runner.
 He takes personal pride in him because he taught him to push and not "pull", to keep his head down when sprinting, while other coaches scoffed at his method. Riley crouched against a post to demonstrate his theories.
 Jumping Alters Style
 "Jesse, of course, is at Slight disadvantage because he broad jumps," he explained. He told how he had put tape measure across approach steps to Owens broadjump takeoff.
 Because he does broadjump, Jesse reaches out seven inches more with one foot than the other because he is a jumper as well as sprinter.
 Riley calculates that if Owens could cut the seven inches dif- ference in stride to four it would make a difference of five feet in 20 strides, thus giving him more speed.
 Riley himself, 36 years ago, was scampering down the lime-striped lanes of Philadelphia prep school. In four decades of study ing runners, he has taken tips from all.
 Sports writer's stories that Owens is natural runner irritate him.
 Awkward At First That boy is made runner He was as awkward as any when I first got him. He was quick and eager to learn and I even had to hold him back. It was hard tc keep him from training too hard Most afternoons, we'd work only to cast off his weaknesses. Then one day I let him exert himself and checked his time"
 Riley twinkled. "That way, he came to his peak gradually" As soon as Owens returned tc Cleveland from Europe, he spent much time with his old coach going over pictures of his Olym. pic experiences and talking of ole i times.
 Friends had rather promised Riley chance to "go over" to tht Olympic games. But plans fel through. The last thing Riley told Jesse in New York was "keer your head down, son." And Ri. ley's formula worked at Berlin a. it had in the United States. Coached Owens Eight Years | Riley first spotted Jesse as ( champion in 1929 when he coached hi min junior high. He worked or him over the years-eight of them He's mechanical now. But w surely worked long time to make him the flash he is. He's a per. feet example of my type of run. ner. He never tires easily because his running is just a lspeeded-ur walk. He's relaxed at all times.
 Another important thing taught him was to run with hi toes open. When they're open you get leverage and snap, which add to the speed. Then, by keep. ing the chin down, not back, yo, can gain nearly 8 foot wheI crossing the finish"
 Riley showed what he meant then went on: "The arms should swing out ahead and never b, more than four inches above , point parallel with the ground. Fine Points Discussed "The point of all these sug gestions is to increase speed ant never retard it by awkward mo tions. Watch Jesse and you'll SCI what I mean.
 Just imagine the track is to- hot to touch!" That's what I al ways taught Jesse. "Quick. ligh steps-that's the secret of speed. Riley was helping Owens trail for some exhibition meets las summer. His coordination seeme' ragged. Riley discovered that 8 he was driving his left arm dow his right foot should have beel making the stride. But instead, was stiIl coming out of the start | iricp hnlc