Evening star., 1952-01-29

handcappers who specialize in two-footed runners had
talked of possible world record at least record of
kind What they cocking four minutes, II
twofths seconds Mers beating that time years ago.
popular theory is that Wits strategy largely
sponsbe Fed with setting pace for Gehrmann and being
npped at the tape the FBI hung back to Jockey with
his rival since neither much concerned about
body else in the race BY the tsken that neither
Gehrmann Wilt deserves special accolade for the
technique The end result that won as usual
but only by a foot and in disappointing time
IT'S DOUBTFUL IF Gehrmann won many friends among
track and field addcts with the Oympcs when he
was quoted last week saying in effect that merely
to win and uninteresed setting records broadly
limited that he out to beat Wilt although necessary
he could a faster mile. E5ss, 33}: 3saGt9 nt6s{
If is aiming to stuff his abode with trophies cups
plates and medals Gehrmanns the practical way
at the matter But Gehrmann isn't likely anybody
forget Paavo Nurm and lot of other distance runners mostly
foreign. They had different philosophy.
There any miStaking Nurmi the rest Of
the field Aside from the fact that Paavo off
standing start scornng the traditional crouchng position
Flying Finn competed only single enemy-and
was the stopwatch he his wrist
If Nurm felt he should the mile in minutes and
10 seconds he bated his opwatch He did it in 1929 when
he broke the world record eight years
He never hoop hoer for any living If
body else could faster somebody hap
pened only rare occasions because Nurmi invariably
flirting with record time.
AT ONE STAGE, Nurni held world 10 different
events These did not include classified local. which
included American records John Lardner who not long
reviewed Paavos Sport Magazine pointed
that If the Finn young running today he'd still
dominate the distance field although all of his marks
have been wiped from the books.
S mile record lasted for eight years. reported
His tWo-me record stood for five years. his 5000meter
record for eight and his meter record for nine And
forl7 yearsiDm 1923 to 1945-no equaed his total
ground covered in hour which miles 648 yards
1t was in 1908 that the last American Olympic
race at 1900 meters although the United States
sisteny dominates the frequently spectacular
events such the dashes hurdles and pole vault Perhaps
Uncle Sans greatest miller Glenn Cunningham who at
least certainly ranks above Gehmann Wilt But
Berlin not Cunningham could Lovelock of
England beat Cunningham at 1500 meters in the Olympic
record time of 3:478.
In the 1948 London Olympics great deal might have
been expected OF Gil DoddS easily the miller this
country indoors and out then and with 1858 cocking
recommend him. But pulled tendon shelved Dodds and
Gehrmann moved No the United States
the Olympics he finished sixth
AT THAT TIME Gehrmann only junior Wisconsin.
But last April in the Penn Relays Gehrmann Wilt
special mile against Roger England merely
placed and showed
TITS possible too, that indoor, pine-board banked
tracks have something to with raising Olympic hopes
There's an extra lift kick, that gets from board
track that he doesn't get outdoors 4cinders American
ms whove been clicked anywhere from 407 to- usually
don't come close to these times outdoors. IN
Ty Cobb used to eadweighted shoes in training
his feet would feel lighter in regulation gear when the
started Foreign distance Czech Firms and
perhaps the Russansdo much of their training in forests and
gles Thus they footing in formal competition
has got to be- better And past performances back this
logical reasoning.