Dr. Peter Snell, the Olympic legend and former world record holder, ran a mile today to open the New Zealand Masters Games in his native land. He lives in Texas now, but as they say, “You can take the boy out of New Zealand but not New Zealand out of the boy.” The local Otago Daily Times reported on his return to his homeland. ” His time for the mile? About 20 minutes, spent schmoozing mostly.

Alistair McMurran wrote the following for editions of Tuesday, Feb. 7:
Peter Snell’s legs were fine but his arms were tired after the Chatsford Mile down Dunedin’s George St yesterday.
Snell (67) ran a little at the start and at the finish, but most of his time was spent walking with his large band of enthusiastic supporters.
“I’m glad I decided not to run the whole way,” he said. “It was much more fun walking a bit and interacting with the walking group at the back.”
Snell took an easy 20 minutes to complete the distance, but his writing arm became weary as he signed autographs and posed for photos for the next 50 minutes.
The former Olympic champion did not know what to expect when he accepted an invitation to be the special guest at this year’s New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin.
The enthusiastic and friendly response he has received surprised Snell and wife Miki.
“It’s been more overwhelming than I thought it might be,” Snell said. “There has been so much goodwill and I feel very responsive to it. It shows I’m appreciated, and I enjoy that.”
About 250 runners and walkers joined Snell for yesterday’s mile and about 1500 spectators lined the streets and cheered as Snell passed.
Glenyss Jones, of Gore, renewed her friendship with Miki Snell, whom she competed against at the World Masters Athletics championships at Christchurch in 1981.
It was before I had met Peter, Miki said.
One person who enjoyed yesterday’s mile more than most was Rose Jacob (91), of Hamilton, who was competing in her first Masters Games. She won an athletics gold medal in the 100m on Saturday, but the chance to enter the same event as Snell was special to her.
Snell’s little deeds of kindness when he was in his prime have come back to reward him over the past week. Barbara McCabe (65), of Dunedin, reminded Snell of the time he visited the small Lismore school in Mid-Canterbury and presented her sister, Moira, with a gold medal for winning the school athletics sports.
Doug Gibson (63), of Gore, got Snell to sign the book The Lydiard Way, his running bible.
Snell posed for a photo with a group of older women from the Chatsford Rest Home. Former Scottish junior international Bill Kenny was overwhelmed.
I never thought I’d live to run in the same race as Peter Snell.
The race was won by Greg Cook (40), an assistant professor in microbiology at the University of Otago, in 4min 29sec.
Snell retired from serious running before Cook was born, but the younger man said he still admired the Olympian’s legacy. He looked proud when Snell autographed his race singlet.
Phillippa Sutton (45) drove down from Oamaru and finished second in the women’s race.
I wanted to run the mile with Peter, she said. He has always been my idol.