The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-26
PUNCHED.
Cross Country
Run at Tech
WAS VERY CLOSE,
Sophomores Won Lead in
Points-Freshmen Second.

Those who followed the Tech cross
country runners over their five mile
jaunt, yesterday afternoon, witnessed
the best long distance race ever run
under Tech auspices.
1t was race from start TO finish. It
was race in which every man was
more than starter. He was a COM
petitor. Rogers, the Junior. was the
winner. but he had no walkover
Holmes, the freshmen's pride. was close
at his heels when the tape was reached.
The other men followed soon after
They did not straggle along one at a
tlme with minute intervening be,
tween them. On the other hand they
finished by twos or threes, and the
combinations came close together
The crowd at the tape saw only a
very small part of the race for the con-
test yesterday was not of the kind in
winch all the excitement comes in the
last 100 yards or so. Until the final
scramble the starters were punched
They ran so close together as to at
times tread on each others heels. The
last man was not 20 yards behind the
leader when the field swung from the
boulevard into Highland street and to
the tape. But of course in the sprint
the relative staying qualities of the
men asserted themselves, and the field
spread out somewhat in consequence.
The first run of this seasons series
wasIleld few weeks ago, the juniors
at that time scoring the largest num-
Der OF points, with the freshmen Sec
ond, and the sophomores third. But
yesterdays run sent up the sophomore
score with rush, and today the 1901
men stand first in the table of points
having 14S points to their credit The
freshmen rank second, their number
being 112, while the juniors now are
third, and practically out of the contest
Tor the class championship, with only
1OS points in both runs. Rogers and
Allen were the only juniors scoring yes
terday.
Rogers, who finished first. has won
number of cross countries at the in
stitute. In fact, since Braman left the
Tech he has been looked upon as the
best long distance man in school, But
there were plenty of men in the field
who seemed perfectly willing. in fact
even anxious, to dispute the title with
him. There was Holiness the much
heralded freshman, who finished Sec
ond in the first run, and was said to
be able of better things this time.
Holmes went plucky race, but, as in
the other run, he did not have quite as
much reserve speed, and for this rea-
ner of third place, at times looked
most dangerous man. There were 9TH
ers, at one time or another, who seems
ed FAIRLY likely to usurp Rogers po-
sition, but when it came to the crucial
test they We're found lacking, if only by
small margin.
The field consisted of Is starters-a
slight increase over the number in the
fTst-run. But at the same time, Wor,
cester Polytechnic Institute with its
more than 200 students. should be able
to muster out more than Is men to
an inter-class run of the Importance
and prestige of the Tech cross coun>
tries. The men We're lined up at the
starting point, at the corner of West
and Highland streets, at five minutes
Of 5Ho'clock, and after Starter Coombs
had given them the usual instructions
they were sent of.
At first no one seemed inclined to
take the lead, and before the lot swung
from Highland street into the Boule-
Nard at least a half dozen men had
been showing the way to the others.
Rogers, however, did not like the pace
that was being set, and so went up
himself. From the point he went into
the lead, until the finish Rogers was
never headed. At times some of the
other runners would come on even
terms, but Rogers was the pacemaker
all the way.
The run out to Goes square was slow.
heavy ice cart even sufficed to fur
nish the pacing for short distance.
But once the telegraI% pole at the
square had been rounded and the
athletes had started for home. they be-
gan to run faster. Rogers began to in
crease his speed and the others, deter
mined to stay close by as long as pos
sible. responded. At Chandler street
the field seemed to be fairly flying, and
yet the men We're as close together as
when they had passed the street. al
though going in the opposite direction,
about Is minutes before.
At Pleasant street the relative posi-
ton of the men remained about the
same. Then around the curve from
Elm street to Highland. distance of
nearly half mile, the first signs of
fatigue began to assert themselves, and
a few Of the green men began to lag.
But the main bunch kept gamely on
and Kept together For time four
men were running abreast with Rogers.
Once. turning into Highland street the
fast pace grew even faster. Rogers
was challenged by three or four men,
Holmes and Allen among them. The
sprint to the tape had begun
Rogers, as soon as he saw move
made to pass him, just let out another
link. BY the fair grounds gate Rogers
had FIVE yards to the good and
Holmes who was in second, was 10
yards ahead of Allen. Rogers made a
strong finish, sprinting across the tape.
Holmes came second, with Allen third
and the others came so thick and so
fast that the scorers had difficulty in
getting the men as they flashed past.
Within two minutes from the time
Rogers had finished, the last man was
home and the run was over The time
was 29:16. with the last half in 12:47
The officials were: Referee and
starter. Zelotes w. COMBS: timers. A.
J.. Day 1902, Fl. p. Scott so; judges
C. A. Burgess 80 and w. A Davis 1901
Tha "a bile Showing the 1nnitafc sn1Ar.o1l