The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-30
Greg. U. S. Pat. Off
RY OSCAR FRALEY

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
New York, June 3O-(UP)-Gil-
bert Dodds, the flying parson from
Boston, heads west today with a
secret running plan designed to dis
rupt the American Odyssey OF Swe-
dens Gunder Hagg.
The laundering theologian,
pounding front-runner who pours
on the pace from the gun, Is go
ing out to run to win" when he
matches strides with the smorgas-
bord special at Soldiers field, Chi
cago, Friday night. But there's more
to his plan than that.
give got certain ideas about how
I'm going to run this race and 1
hope they'll work out all right" said
galloping Gil.
More than that he would not say,
but there was a CLEAN in his eye
which indicated that Dodds had
hopes of cutting the fuse on the
Swedish skyrocket. And with a
speedy defense of his national AAU
1,5OO-meter title under his belt, the
far from doddering DodCs isn't
man to be overlooked.
Dodds In Form
Hagg and Dodds go at it over the
two-mile route, Gil's best dlstnce
before he tired OF chasing Greg Rice
and dropped down to the mile iof
series of amazing upset trlumphs.
But what makes Dodds a bigger
threat even than Rice at this time
is the fact that the 2o-year-old
Gordon seminary student is IN top
form. Rice, crushed by Hagg in the
latter's American debut, was lar
from in shape.
A triumph over Hagg would be
tvpical of the amazing Mr.. Dodos'
for his entire track career has peen
slightly on the screWball side. he
first became interested in running
when he tossed a rock at trucA
driver, and the man collareo MN.
The driver was Lloyd Hahn, former
Am erican mile champ. Ham
coached Dcdds by mail when inc
embryo Parson went to Ashlano
college In Ohio and surprised oy
winning the NCAA cross-country
crown and central collegiate conner
ence two-mile title. Now ne IS con
tinuing under veteran JACK Ryder
the Boston A. A. coach.
reversing Greeley's theory by
coming East to gain recognltlor' ti,e
Nebraska boy shot into the spot
light last winter. He deteateo Les
| lie MacMitchell the INDOOR iniie
king. for the AAU board track
crown in a fast 4:08.7 and turned
In two other triumphs in the re-
spectable times Of 4:08.5 and ,4:oo.o'
81 don't know how I'll make out
against Hagg," Dodds explained as
he prepared to shove off, but I'm
Going out and run to win. I really
like the two mile race better than
the mile and I ran 1t enough
against Rice to be able 10 Juoes
my pace.
Confident
"I don't know very much about
Hage and I don't believe anyone
else does. I didn't see him at Ran
dall's Island in the AAU meet--sEM
the way I see it you've got to con-
slider him as a darkhorse.'
That "darkhorse' statement con-
corning a man who raced to seven
world marks last summer, shows
the essence of confidence on the
part of galloping Gil. Without be-
ing cocky, the chunky lad claimed
by three states regards himself as
the man to beat and calls on Hagg
to prove his ability. t
The odds are that Hagg. to win
will have to better the American
record of 1888 which Indiana's
Don Lash set in the rain at Prince
ton in 1896. Gill; the fail order run
ner. knows only one pace-a killing
drive from the gun-and Is certain
that Mr.. Dodds is going to town.