(Specially Written for “N.Z. Railways Magazine,” by W. F. Ingram.)

A New era in amateur athletics in New Zealand began with the arrival, late in November, of Alfred Fitch, an American athlete, who was engaged by the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to coach the athletes in their district.

Fitch comes from the University of Southern California, a seat of learning in Los Angeles from whence also comes great athletes. As a member of the American Olympic team in 1936—he ran in the relay race of 1600 metres—Fitch has seen most of the world's leading track men in action and has competed against most of the sprinters and quarter-milers.

Apart from A. K. G. Brown, of England, it is doubtful if there is another athlete in the world, to-day, capable of defeating Fitch in a contest over 100, 220 and 440 yards. It is claimed for Fitch that the only star American sprinter he has not beaten in competition is Jesse Owens, the triple Olympic champion. But Owens is a sprinter in a class of his own!

Fitch was not in Wellington twelve hours before he had started in his work of coaching. He arrived at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday, November 27, and at 2 p.m. the same day was at the athletic meeting at Petone showing the young athletes how to do the right actions.

Credit for bringing Fitch to New Zealand belongs to one man—an ex-railway man! To Mr. Ben Sutherland, of Wellington, is praise due for possessing the vision and action which was culminated by Fitch's arrival here. Mr. Sutherland was in Japan on a holiday visit, and saw the visiting American athletes competing against the sons of Nippon. He was impressed with the bearing and capabilities of the American athletes, and took the opportunity of meeting several members of the team. From Dr. Campbell, of the University of Southern California, he received much helpful advice and he asked the American to approach Dean Cromwell, a prominent American coach, to select a suitable coach for Wellington.

On returning to New Zealand, Mr. Sutherland lost little time in informing the Wellington Centre of his action and offered to act as guarantor for the amount involved. A canvass was made for funds—a sum of £600 is needed—and at the time of writing, Mr. T. W. (“Dorrie”) Leslie, the Olympic starter, had collected more than £300. Fitch has settled down to training the athletes and the athletes are unanimous in voting him to be a really good chap!

It is his popularity that has impressed me as being an attribute possessed by most American athletes seen in New Zealand. Jackson Scholz, Harlow Rothert, George Simpson, George Krogness, Leo Lermond, Rufus Kiser, Lloyd Hahn, Jack Merchant and Maurice Kirksey had that mystical “crowd appeal” which made them stand out in any company. It may be the result of concentrated practice in track and field sport, or it may be a legacy of the “American Independence,” but American athletes certainly give the impression of being able to do what they set out to do. There is an air of quiet confidence in their own ability to beat the other man. It is a feeling that was lacking when the quartette of British athletes competed in New Zealand a few years ago. American athletes, when wearing the Stars and Stripes fear none—and race accordingly. If Fitch can impart some of this same self-confidence into our athletes, he will have achieved something.

But I am inclined to believe that Fitch's best results will come from the field events, in which New Zealanders have never had the opportunity of receiving coaching. Track sport is, after all, a somewhat natural form of sport. We first of all learn to crawl, then to toddle, then to walk and later to run. There are right and wrong ways of walking and running, and once Fitch has corrected the minor faults his work will probably centre more in coaching jumpers, discus, hammer and javelin throwers.

The standard of track sport in New Zealand is high! I make this statement and am prepared to produce figures to prove it. In few parts of the world are there so many sound performances returned by athletes, who have to work from 8 or 9 a.m. to 4.30 or 5 p.m. and then do their training. In America, and in England, too, the outstanding athletes are University students who are able to adjust their training syllabus to train at a time of the day when the body is in the best state to do training. At 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. the body is mentally and physically adjusted to stand violent exercise. Try running a mile after a day's work, or before breakfast, and compare it with the mile you have covered at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. There's a marked difference! And it is this difference page 64 that I contend prevents our track men from reaching the top rungs of the athletic ladder. Men of the calibre of Boot, Matthews, Wilson, Sayers and Broadway, given the same opportunities of English and American athletes would be worthy rivals in any competition.

But what a different story there is to be told in the field events in New Zealand! Our field men do not understand the mechanics of their sport and performances suffer accordingly. There has never been a New Zealander to clear 12ft. in the pole vault; the world record is nearly 15ft.! There has never been a New Zealander to clear 6ft. 2in. in the high jump; the world record is over 6ft. 10in.! This is where Fitch is going to prove valuable to our athletics and, after having met and conversed with the young American, I am confident that his work will be worthwhile.