Athletics of To-Day 1929

CHAPTER V CLASSICAL DISTANCES-I,500 METRES AND I MILE IN America the IOO yards is the most popular event, but in Europe, and especially in England, the Mile, or its corres– ponding metric distance of I,soo metr s, is held to be the Blue Ribbon of the cinder path, and to-day men can run a mile nearly half a minute faster than did their forefathers of sixty or seventy years ago. Better tracks and sho s, the use of massage, knowledge of striding and body carriage, appreciation of running strategy, track tactics, and the value of time sche– dules, besides the importance of keeping the body at approxi– mately its finishing temperature between eliminating trials and the final of a race, are all matters that are being clos ly studied and better understood ach year, and it is this science in ath- 1 tics, more than anything lse, that is enabling n1en to run faster. In I864 the late Sir harles Lawes-\Vittewrong, then Mr. . B. Lawes, C.U.A. ., won the Oxford and Cambridge Mile in 4 mins. 59 secs. And, in I866, he took the English hampion– ship in 4 mins. 39 secs. In I865 the late Lord Alver tone, then Mr. R. E. W bster, C.U.A. ., won the Oxford and ambridge Mile in 4 mins. 44 4 secs. (see No. I, Plate z), wher as in Igoo, H. W. Gregson (Oundle) established the pres nt ublic Schools Mile Record of 4 mins. 32i secs. Lord Alver ton was noted for his great finishing pace and also laid claim to consideration as a sprinter. His chief opponent in I86S was the Earl of Jersey, and in those days Gregson's performance would have been considered phenomenal. A 4 mins. zo secs. standard for the mile distance nowadays denotes a really first class performer. It may be said to correspond to IOO yards in Ioi secs., 440 yards in 50 secs., and 78