Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

[gh]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

A google for Snell and Rothman's turned up this entry in a Sacred Heart College (of Auckland) reunion chat board

<<In my years at SHC, I can recall running track with the team and one day, Peter Snell showed up to train with us. There we were with the future World Record holder in the mile and the Gold Medal winner in the Olympics. Guess what Mr. Snell did when he was not running...he was a sales rep for Rothman's cigarettes! He even showed up at the college that day in a car with the Rothmann's logo on the side door. >>

[SQUACKEE]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

this is conversation i believe never took place-

" hey snell great time trial that 2:36 you just ran was not bad. whata think about going to the masters champ. as an x olympic champion wouldnt it be cool to travel to the meet and get maybe 10th place."

here is a conversation much more likely-

"hey snell great time trial. that time you just ran could win the world championship, maybe a new world record to-boot mate. lets do it!"

[KDFINE]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

As I recall, Snell competed in the Superstars open competition. As a tennis player he was perhaps a bit of a ringer. I seem to recall him being wiped out in a fall on the bicycle - someone fell in front and brought him down. At the time I felt he was cheated out of points since it wasn't he that precipitated the fall.

[MJD]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

I mentioned on another thread that Earl Fee(the canuck with the 800 65-69 age group record) just got named male athlete of the recent Masters games and got a trip to the WAF for his troubles.

[tafnut]

Re: I'd rather not see it

>Was he the smoker or was it some other down-under guy?<

from:http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/...nellsecret.asp
"For the record… Peter never took up cigarettes and is extremely anti-smoking."

[gh]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

Herb Elliott was the smoker (althugh as I recall, Snell ended up as a promo guy for Rothman's at one point)

[tafnut]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

>>make me think it will be much closer to 2:15 (maybe even>better) than to 3:15.<<

let's hope so - like honus, I prefer to remember him as the 'animal' he was (that's a compliment btw).

[MJD]

Re: I'd rather not see it

Was he the smoker or was it some other down-under guy?

[Honusonthesound]

I'd rather not see it

I'd like to remember the guy as he was. He was one tough cookie that came to race. He was a force. The guy had a field event guy's mentality which gave him an advantage right from the get-go. :- )

[Cyril]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

TAFNUT-

Maybe, but I don't know if he would even bother if he'd be running 3:15. Also, the article made it sound like he was taking it somewhat seriously. This along with his understanding of the event, the physiology and the necessary training make me think it will be much closer to 2:15 (maybe even better) than to 3:15.

[tafnut]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

I am always amazed at how extraordinarily differently people age. NEVER bet on masters athletes because of what they did at their peak. Many great former athletes have discovered that Father Time has not been kind to them - even if they stayed in shape and slim - and some run-of-the-mill guys don't lose much at all and suddenly find themselves doing very well. PS could be a 2:15 guy or a 3:15 guy.

[SQUACKEE]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

If he takes it somewhat seriously, don't think a age WR is out of the question.


i doubt the current age group world record holder has a 1:44 p.r.!!!!

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

Didn't he also win a veteran Superstars at some point?

[gh]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

In the mid-'70s, when Superstars competitions were all the rage, there was a Kiwi version, in which Snell competed against John Walker and Rod Dixon, among others. Not sure, but i THINK he won. I recall Walker and Dixon saying they had never seen such a complete natural athlete, and he did something like pick up a bow and arrow for the first time and run off a string of bullseyes, or the like. (Story did/has probably grown in the telling, and with the fuzzing of tiem, but bottom line is that Walker and Dixon at their peaks were truly amazed at what a Snell who was 15 years older could sitll do)

[Cyril]

Re: Peter Snell planning masters comeback in M65 group

It will all depend on how seriously he approaches it, how fit he is currently and how he trains. Being an exercise physiologist, I suspect he is in decent shape and will train appropriately.

If he takes it somewhat seriously, don't think a age WR is out of the question.