The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-20

decided to give it to him for special per-
Torrance at a joint meeting of the New
| York and Manhattan Athletic clubs. A
scratch 300-yard run was made, Myers and
Beloher of California being the principal
entries. 1t is scarcely necessary to say
that the race was a foregone conclusion.
The champion of England and America
made the pace a terrific one, and having
things all his own way came down the
finish a winner by many yards in record
time-311% seconds. He then became pos
SCISSOR of the finest medal, probably, that
was ever won by runner. For my
| part, have never seen its equal any
where.
| The following week, September "a, 1881,
was the occasion of the annual champion
ship meeting, and Myers has seldom
showed off to better advantage than on
that day. He began the afternoons work
by winning the 10o-yard race. As he
reaehed point&bout five yards, possibly
ten yards from the tape, he threw up his
hands and turned his head In this
position he crossed the tape in the re-
markedly fast time-under the eircum-
stanees-of 101< seconds. After winning
the 220-yard in comparatively slow time,
he went out for the quarter mile. As
might be supposed, he won this by broad
margin, but the time was notable, 40 2-5,
for it was the fastest time ever made at
the annual championship meeting, and
remains so until this day.
On October 8 the American Athletic
Club, of which later became a member,
gave a set of games. The meeting was
memorable for two things: The first i'm
portant win of Wendell Baker, who CAP
tured the 100-yard handicap from the
5-yard mark, 1 think, in 10 seconds.
but particularly for Myers appearance in
the 100O-yard run. This was a scratch
race. The medal was particularly mag
niicent affair; the second medal was as
handsome as the trophies given the win
ners OF the other events.
At the crack of the pistol Myers started
of at long. swinging stride, the others
falling little behind. 1t is to be re-
GREETED that the time was not taken for
each 100 yards of the journey, as it would
be interesting indeed to study the details
wish l had time to describe the race that
was going on behind Myers between Smith
and Jeshurun, but will have to reserve the
| incident for another time.
At about 600 yards the leader was Joined
distance runners of the period, who
coached the champion to the finish in
remarkably intelligent and successful
manner. The half mile, or $50 yards, was
! passed In /: 55 So, the best amateur record
in the world at that time, the old record
being ;56hs. When 1T is remembered
that he had 120 yards more to go it will
readily be seen that Kilpatriek's present
| time 1 D IL
advance, it is at all, under the cireum-
| stances.
Continuing on the wonderful runner made
every exertion, and weary but determined
passed the tape in 2i13, which record
stands to this day. No other man has
been able to come within 2 As seconds of
1t, an equivalent of about twenty yards
not less. Cummings, George and Hill
have essayed to accomplish it, but in
! vain.
Taking weeks rest, Myers went to
Philadelphia and started against the
quarter mile record. which in this country
remained 40 1-5. AS the season was get
ting little late and the day windy, and
moreover he did not have the incentive OF
an International contest to spur him on,
he could only make 4ssl. However, 1t was
very fast time, and still remains the top
or the heap in this country as record
around curved path. 1t will be remem-
bered that the best on record by Wendell
Baker (47s4) was made on straightawsy.
Myers English record of 4s SIS stood at
the head of the records until 1889, and
then it was only beaten the merest frae-
| ton of a second, or the difference between
4s11 and 4S 3-5.
In the 44o-yard run just referred to
Myers established a 350-yard record that
has never been beaten, namely. 30 40 Sec
onds. 1t will thus be seen that he traV-
eled the last ninety yards in II 40 seconds.
One week later the great runner, dlssatls-
fed with his quarter-mile time, essaEed to
lower it on the same grounds as the 1000
yards, the old polo grounds IN New York,
There was a lacrosse match IN progress
and Myers came out between the games.
GEORGE D, BAIRD.