The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-02
Cross Country
Series at Tech.
S0PHOMORES WIN
Rogers Gets the Individual
Championship.

The annual series of Tech cross coun-
try runs closed yesterday afternoon,
with big field of entries, no less than
thirty-seven men appearing for the
word. Not only were the starters more
numerous than in either of the preeed-
ing runs, but not since 1892 has a
Tecl cross country run attracted so
many athletes.
1t was a foregone conclusion that the
sophomore class would win the class
Championship, having at the conclusion
of the second run a clean lead of over
thirty points, The juniors and fresh
men, however, were closely punched,
with second place depending entirely
upon this final run. The freshmen had
a lead of only nine points over the up
per classmen and it was on account
of the closeness of this contest that
the field was so large. Both classes
had mustered into service every avail
able athlete the ranks of the foot ball
men being invaded in order to get to
the start any and all men who stood
the slightest chance of scoring even a.
single point for his class The result
was that the juniors passed their
youthful opponents with a rush, and
won out second place in the series with
twenty points to the good. There is,
however. no class trophy for second,
so the sophomores get the only visible
reward. Their trophy is class ban
ner
Souvenir badges are given to the men
standing the six highest in the list of
total number of points scored by indi-
vidual men. Rogers of the Junior class
who won that distinction last fall. is
again the individual champion having
finished first in all three runs. Second
place goes to Holmes, a promising ath-
lete of the freshmen ranks. Holmes
has not quite enough speed to beat
ont Rogers, but he easily outclasses the
other aspirants for cross country hon
ors, ard has 81 points to his credit,
three less than the leader, Rogers. The
other four men in the winning fist with
the points are, Allen 49, Hutchins AZ,
Clark 81, Hatch and Dillingham; "a
each.
The runs this fall have. on the whole,
been more interesting and accomplished
their pprpose--of bringing out green
material in the institute-better than
any series of recent years. In the days
when Harry Dadmun, Ed Smith.
Charles Baker, and Billie Parker We're
among the competitors, faster time was
made by the winners, but the averages
were never higher than they have been
this season. The men have kept well
together going over the course, spread
ing out only during the last half mile
or so. Then the superior endurance and
greater experience of the best men
would naturally assert themselves. The
number of starters dropping OUT along
the line has been remarkably small
This may in a measure have been due
to the fact that the weather each time
has been cold, and the easiest and
quickest way for a tired man to get
home again was by running
The runners were very
slow in dressing and getting out
to the starting line at the corner OF
Highland and West streets, so it was
quarter past instead of quarter of Ave
o'clock when the small sized army Of
thinly-clad athletes were sent away.
The course for the third and last run
of the series was from the starting
point, through Highland street to New
ton square, down June to May to Park
avenue to Highland to the start
The field ran as far as the fair
grounds without single pacemaker,
this duty being performed by the first
tier of starters numbering nine men.
Then John Brooks, who plays full on
the foot ball team, moved into the lead.
Rogers and Holmes. the eventual Win
ners of first and second place, being
close behind while the other thirty odd
men were near enough to touch Shout
ders very comfortably. Brooks kept in
the lead all the way out. He was the
first man checked at Newton square,
the scorers caught him first again at
May street, and coming down the
boulevard there was no one ahead of
him.
But all this time Rogers was watch
ing the new conner very, closely and al
lowing him to gain no perceptible adj
vantage. Down the boulevard the jul
nior worked up on even terms and they
logged down toward Highland street to-
gether. Whether Brooks or Rogers was
really setting the pace is difficult to
tell. But at all events the clip was a
merry one and the speed increased with
the approach to the finish.
When the bunch swung into Highland
street and squared away for the finish.
the pace was of the proverbial killing
order. Brooks, with his lack of training,
soon found himself in hot water, and
others who had up to that time been
near the front, likewise found them
selves laboring under difficulties. But
neither Rogers nor Holmes seemed
tired. They raced along by the fair
grounds fence, neck and neck. Then the
Junior began drawing away from his
opponent just as he did a week ago,
and breasted the tape thirty or forty
yards ahead of the freshman Hatch
and Freeman followed along in very
quick order, and in less than a minute
after Rogers had finished, twelve men
has scored.
1t was quite dark by the time the run
and the series was over, but under the
light of the arc lamp the totals were
figured out and then the juniors
cheered for the victory over the fresh