Coaching and Care of Athletes

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MODERN RECORDS distance in 4 mins. 9'2 secs. In I933 W. Bonthron, U.S.A., returned 4 mins. 8·7 secs., but was beaten by J. E. Lovelock, New Zealand (Plate VII, Fig. 22), with 4 mins. 7·6 secs. This record was eclipsed in I934 by G. Cunningham, U.S.A., who returned 4 mins. 6·8 secs. Even this amazing achievement was surpassed in I937 by Sidney Wooderson, Great Britain (Plate VII, Fig. 2I), who in a specially arranged handicap ran the mile in 4 mins. 6·6 secs. This was the addition of the actual lap times, but approval has since been given to 4 mins. 6·4 secs., Wooderson's official world's record time. Incidentally, Cunningham, in March I938, ran I mile on an indoor board track of 6i laps in 4 mins. 4·4 secs. At longer distances still the advance in athletic achievement has been equally remarkable. For example, the pre-War record for one hour was I I miles I I35 yds., achieved at Ibrox Park, Glasgow, by Alfred Shrubb, of England, in I904, whereas in Germany in I928 Nurmi ran I I miles I648 yds. within the space of one hour, and it has always been believed that he could have covered the level I 2 miles had he really been extended . Hurdle racing shows an even, more wonderful advance in the magnitude of human achievement. Up to I9I5 the world's record for the I 20 yds. hurdles with ten flights of 3 ft . 6 ins. ob– stacles was held by F. C. Smithson, U .S.A., who in I9o8 won the Olympic championship in London in I5 secs. Such a time nowa– days is considered no more than moderately good. Immediately after the War Earl Thomson, of Canada, reduced the record to I4'4 secs., and in I936 F. G. Towns, U.S.A., returned I4 ·I secs. and I3 ' 7 secs. for new world's records. In September I937 the great British athlete D. 0. Finlay (Plate V, Fig. I I) returned I4' I secs. at Stockholm for a European record. At the British Empire Games in I938 T. P. Lavery, South Africa, returned I4 secs. Where the low hurdles are concerned much the same state of affairs obtains. The pre-War record of 23 ·6 secs. for 220 yds. over ten flights of 2 ft. 6 ins. hurdles was held jointly by the Americans A. C. Kraenzlein (I898) and J. I. Wendell (I9I3)· Now it is held by Jesse Owens, who in I935 returned 22·6 secs. Owens broke three world's records and equalled a fourth on the same afternoon. From I904 to the outbreak of the War the 440 yds. low hurdles record of 54·6 secs. was held by Harry Hillman, U .S.A., but in I927 J. A. Gibson, U.S .A., reduced the record to 52·6 secs., while in I934 Glen Hardin, U.S.A., returned 50·6 2!