The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Hagg To Test RaAery's Rep" As Runner
.ifE%S$ST"
(ReE, U, s. Pat Off0 nv LACK CODDY

BE JAOM CODDA
 United PrcSs Staff Correspondent
 New York, March 2-(up) -Work- Ing as a haberdashery salesman ,S a lct tougher than being a fireman-- In Sweden at least. When Gunder Hagg was a fireman at oalve, he waS unbeatable in foot racing. But alter he became a mems wear clerk in Malmoe, he was defeated in six or seven races by his countryman, Arne Anderson.
 The hardships of haberdashing are blamed for Gunder- the wonders showings against the Stockholm school teacher. That was the excuse given at last nights press confer- ence by Haakon Lidman, the Swed- ish hurler who arrived in New York yesterday with Hagg-finally.
 Lidman, black-haired and be- sps ctacled, is taller and lankler even than spindly Haeg. The So-year-old hurdler, a Stockholm sports writer, makes with the English much better than pal Gunder. Lidman said:
 After Gunder went to work in Sure Ohlsson's shop in Malmoe, he had almost no time to train. And he would have been too tired, any way He was on his feet, selling clothes, from nine in the morning to slx-thirty at night-six days a week. Being always on his feet took much out of his legs. Although An- dcrson is a great runner, as his clocking show, Hagg would have done much better against him If he still had the fireman's jcb in Gayle"
 In Sweden, 1t seems, youngsters who show unusual ability as run ners get bids to work for the various town and village fire departments. In America they would get board- room tuition bids from certain col- leges. Gunder had a soft job as fire- msn in the village of Gayle, about l5O miles north of Stockholm. When not responding to one of the rare calls on Gavlc's ancient fire wagon, Gunder could take his ease in the recreation room, playing the accor- dion or doing leg exercises. It was not difficult to get leaves for training and track meets. He kept in fine shape; but he earned only about $20 week.
 Money lured him to Malmoe. It is estimated that he receives about $4,- 900 a year as haberdashery sales man.
 When Hagg was asked about the Anderson defeats, he did not agree with Hurdler Lidman. He merely grinned and said, Anderson is yust better'n me. Dots all"
 Andersons victories over Hagg in their series of twilight races before huge crowds in Sweden last summer tabbed the Stockholm school teacher the worlds outstanding middle-dis- tance runner, in the books of most track experts. Anderson's greatest achievement was clocking of four minutes, one and siX-tenths seconds for the mile, an amazing new world record. He beat Hagg in that race, although Gunder came second in 4:o2.6, equalling Anderson's previous record.
 Yet 1t must be remembered that Hagg still holds the world records for two miles (8:42.8, three miles Q3:32D, 2,0o0 meters (5:ll,8, A. 900 meters (8:0l2) and 5000 meters (l3:582). Moreover, last July ', Hagg blazed to new world record of 3:43 in the l,500 meters, a truly remarkable clocxing which track coaches point to as proof that the dream four-minute mile" can be achieved.
 It is important to note that An- derson did not run in that July ' race, when Hagg certainly showed no signs of store legs" Maybe 1t wasn't the haberdashery handicap that bothered Gunder in his races with Anderson last summer. Maybe Anderson has the Swedish Indiap sign on him.