A LOVELOCK LESSON

Evening Post, Issue 37, 12 August 1936, Page 10

A LOVELOCK LESSON

STYLE ON CINDER TRACK

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Now that the track section of the Olympic Games is over so far as New Zealand is concerned, let us in our leisure repent. The same old story is to be . told. Lovelock was magnificent—the result of sound training, both from physical and mental standpoints, combined with a perfect judgment born of much hard racing in excellent company; and, last, but not least, cinder track experience. In New Zealand Lovelock was quite mediocre, partly due; apparently, to his still being rather young for good mile running, and partly from his lack of good style, as the modern conception of style is. Again, his sudden rise to success may be due to the fact that some runners are never at home on grass tracks as compared with cinders. Cinders are much harder than grass, and are much more firm. A runner depending on balance and foreleg pull for movement instead of the exaggerated hind-leg push seen usually in the less successful athlete, finds the cinders a much better medium along which to move himself than he does grass. Another factor which, apparently^ contributed to Lovelock's success is his departure from the low arm action he used in New Zealand to a higher one characteristic of Nurmi's style. In fact, Lovelock's action is, in many respects, similar to the great Finn's, particularly as regards the arm action the nearly upright body poise, and the quick follow-through of the knee and lower leg after the stride. This style is excellent for cinders, and Lovelock's adoption of it seems to indicate that he has made a study of Nurmi's action during his stay in England. | It is quite evident that Matthews and Boot were unable, in the time available, to accustom themselves to the cinders after competing on the grass here. This is the same fate that befell Savidan at the Los Angeles Games and Broadway at the Empire Games. ' Savidan remarked that the Finns' style was admirably suited to the cinders. ' It is about time that the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association took the matter of cinder tracks in hand and gave New Zealand athletes something' which would be of permanent benefit instead of wasting the available money in bringing overseas athletes here on tour. That may provide a good afternoon's entertainment, but it does not help the athlete. He never even gets the opportunity of personal contact in order to obtain advice. No! In my opinion, until cinder tracks are made available, and the fundamentals of modern training methods are imbibed, in the young athletes of New Zealand, we shall never produce men who are capable of representing us overseas with any reasonable chance of success. Another- point I should like to stress is that of providing, particularly in the distance events, a sufficient number of track races over two, three, and six miles, not only to induce athletes to specialise in these events, but also to provide adequate racing to produce a high standard of form.—l am, etc., W. V. DROMGOOL.