Evening star., 1954-05-07


of 3:43-held jointly by Haegg
Lennart Strand of Sweden ano
Werner Luegg of Germany
seemed easily within Bannister's
reach. He tied it unofficially ir
his record-shattering mile. Il
was unofficial because there wa:
but one clocker at that point anC
the rules require three for OFF,
cial marks.
Incidentally, all four clockers
at the end of the mile caught
him in identical times, rarity
in itself.
Military Service Ahead.
Immediately ahead lies a year
of military service for Roger
He gets his medical degree in a
few months. But before he joins
the service he will run for Britain
in the Empire Games in Van
couver and the European cham
pionships during the summer.
Then, when he is finished with
his tour Of duty, he will begin
training for the 1856 Olympics
hoping to make up for his failure
in the 1852 games. when he fin
iShed fourth in the 1,500-mete1
test. That still rankles him.
His record may be bettered any
day-and observers around the
world won't be surprised if it is
but this smooth-running ma
chine always will be remembered
as the man who pushed aside the
seemingly impregnable barrier OF
the four-minute mile.
Bannister aimed at it with
scientific precision. He knows all
there is to know about his own
heart, lungs and circulation. He
has done outstanding medical
research in physiology and con-
troll of breathing. Medical pub
locations have carried his trea-
tises on problems of human
runners.
His great heart has a pulse
rate of about so in repose as
against the average for his age
of 72. His long body takes a pain
of trousers with 35-inch legs
He carries the strong force of
character needed to punish him
self religiously during his work.
outs all winter.
Nearly Abandoned Race.
AS for the race itself. the
weather had been so bad right
up until half hour before the
starting time that he debated
whether to make an effort at a
real fast mile. But when the
weather cleared he announced:
"I'll try"
He took the fourth position
from the pole and the starter
fired his gun. Chris Basher,
formerly Of Cambridge, dashed
into the lead. Bannister stayed
at his heels as he led past the
440 and $50.
Then Chris Chataway, an ex-
Oxford student, took over and
Bannister moved in behind him
with a smooth, effortless stride.
Chataway drove himself around
the far bend and into the back
stretch.
With 800 yards to go, Bannis-
ter exploded. He left Chataway
in his wake and forged into the
rough wind leading to the last
run. He was straining, but he
never faulted. His head wobbled
slightly as he drove toward the
tape in those last, agonizing Sc
yards.
Exhausted at Finish.
When it was over, he dropped
exhausted into the arms of two
officials. But he regained his
breath seconds later and rushed
over to thank Chataway ano
Brasher.
He said he thought the first
quarter was too slow and he
called on Brasher to go faster
faster. He apparently heard in
correctly when the announcers
called the first quarter time o1
SIS. That was fast, indeed.
The British newspapers. nat.
urally. splashed his achievement
in huge headlines on the from
pages. for it has been a Ions
time since this country has hac
much to cheer about in sports.
This studious young man def.
nitely was the story of the day
Londy Thinks Sontee Next