The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-29

Thompson, a Green Man,
Showed Great Endurance.

Three of the first four runners in at
the finish of the first high school cross
country, yesterday afternoon, were
members Of the senior class These
men, together with another trio that
finished with the ruck behind, scored
81 points This was sufficient to place
'99 in the lead in total mum
Der of points. The juniors stand sec
ond with As points, while the members
of 1901 scored in all but is points, and
are hopelessly out of the running, even
at this stage Of the game. The fresh
preventing the class from participating
IN any form of school athletics, could
not take part in the run. But with
the good men in the upper classes, it
IS doubtful if the freshies would have
made even a fair showing, had they
been represented.
Ten individual prizes are offered FOR
the series of runs. They will be given
to the men scoring the largest ten num-
Der of points in all three runs. There
is no prize or trophy offered for the
class championship, nevertheless class
II. L
scoring as is employed by the Tech
Athletic Association was used, only
that the number of men scored was Is
instead of 20, the number credited with
places at the finish in the Tech runs.
That the series of runs is going to
create an interest among the students,
was evident from the crowd that gath
cred about the starting point in Insti-
tute Park There We're at least 800 on
nj
number, with the assistance of bicycles
followed the runners over the entire
course of Az miles.
Only seventeen ambitious long-dis-
lance runners appeared at the scratch
to take the word. Some of them had
never undertaken so great a task as
running four and a half miles on a
stretch, and they had received but little
preparation for the race. Others had
the advantage of more or less expert
ence in cross-country running, and had
made some attempt to fit themselves
for the series. Those who are in charge
of the series anticipate a large num-
Der of starters in the second run on
account of the close contest that is
promised between the seniors and ju-
niors.
The winner of Yesterdays run was
w. Clifford. who is the one mile inter
scholastic champion. He has been run
ming for some time, and is undoubted-
edly as good runner as there is in
the high school. The time taken by
the timers was 22:4S 3-5, but it is doubt
ful whether the winner really did the
distance in that figure, for Clifford S
time was about two minutes faster than
the Tech record for the same course.
Cllfford's victory was no surprise, but
II was expected that ST John. 1901.
would be the fighting factor Instead.
however. st. John ran himself out on
the trip to the turning post, and had to
crop INTO walk d portion of the Way
nome. Halpine, winner of second
place, IS also track team man. run
mig the 500 for high school at the in
door meet. He has a fine stride and
Tor man who has been devotiny more
attention to foot bail than cross-coun-
NY running, did remarkably we'll
ne only real surprise of the run was
the performance of Thompson, a soph-
ollofe with few more of his STAMP in
the CLASS, 1891 would be in a position to
make hard fight for the class cham
pionship. With practically noexperjence
az running, Thompson finished in third
place, and he ran strong throughout
the distance. Thompsons stride is NOT
GOOD, but in the hands Of a good train
er this difficulty could be easily rem
eqled. de has the making Of a scholas-
.lc point winner II ne remains in school
and sticks to running.
The boat house at Institute park
served as an improvised training quar-
ters for the starters, and when Referee
Delaney announced that everything
was ready for the run, II men appeared
Tor the word. 1t was not typical day
for foot-racing 1t was too cold. and the
athletes in their thin running costumes
shivered and shook about the starting
mark while they were receiving theiT
instructions At half past 8 O'Clock
Delaney said Co and II athletes. ali
hopeful of getting places, started of
down the Institute drive toward The
boulevard and thence to BARRIERS cross
ing and return.
St John at once cut out the pace, with