The Athletic Association competed against the University. So there was an event. You cannot break world records unless it is an established event, and you have three timekeepers, and the whole thing is organized.
Our house was bombed, and the roof fell in. We were sitting under the stairs of the basement, and we were quite safe, but it brought home the realization. In two nights 400 people were killed in small town.
My introduction to track racing was through the background of cross country running, which is not a sport perhaps as popular in America as it is in England.
My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great stability until the last century. People lived and intermarried in small villages.
My concentration was really on getting to university and becoming a doctor. My parents let me know that school marks were important. Achievement was something which came by hard work.