CRACK ATHLETES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 915, 7 March 1930, Page 7

CRACK ATHLETES

success on Labour Day. Smith is better over a longer distance and may not start in the quarter. Leo Lermond, king of the milers, conqueror of the great Finnish runner, Paavo Nurmi,_ and victor over Olympic champions, is to make an attempt on the 1,000 yards record. He will be competing against Auckland's best dis-tance-runners. In the lunger distances he will measure strides with J. W. Savidan. Savidan definitely has not struck his true form this season. Lermond should encounter little difficulty. In the 880yds bis chief opponent will be E. B. Smith, former Wellington champion. If Lermond sets a new mark for the I,oooyds it will certainly be a great achievement, for Carlaw Park is any - thing but the best of places for such an attempt. There is a pronounced billy rise on one side of the track. This would tell in the distance events. METEORIC CAREER In New Zealand Lermond has run only as fas. as he has had to run. At Christchurch he won the mile in 4.29 and. later, came fourth, his time being again 4.29. On the second occasion be also won a half-mile in 1.57 3-5 — slightly more than Lloyd Hahn’s time three years ago.. Concerning the great American a Writer in the “New Zealand Sportsman,” Wellington, says: Small in stature, Lermond lias earned a big name lor himself luring his meteoric career. Four years ago lie was unheard of in the athletic world. He was not even known as a good club runner but ambition got hold of him and h© determined to be a world s champion. “God gave me a strong body. ITe gave me a sound heart. "Why should I sit on the bank and be a ‘rooter’ for the others?’’ That seemed to be Lernioncl's outlook. He se t about to achieve fitness and achieved greatness! Within a few years he was representing America at the greatest athletic festival of all time —the 1928 Olympic Games. In the 5.000 metres lie tilled fourth place in the final after winning his heat in Ismin 2 3-ssec. The race was over 3 miles ISS yards and Lt*rmond's time equalled 14.32 for three miles.