Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08
MURPHY MADE KRAENZLEIN.

Old Yale Trainer Responsible for the
Development of the Champion.
From the New Haven Register.
When Alvin Kraenzlen becomes coach
for the murders OF the University Of
Pennsylvania next year he will have big
fund of knowledge to work on, the result
OF the patient teaching Of Mike Murphy,
who has deserted the red and blue for his
first love. Yale. When Kraenzlein first
went to Pennsylvania he furnished Muir
ply with the material the veteran trainer
had long been looking for. and from what
might be termed second-rater Mike turn
ed out a worlds champion 1t is mistake
to believe that Kraenzlein was an alto
gether undeveloped man before he came to
Pennsylvania, for he had already jumped
about Ave feet nine or ten inches in the
high Jump and had run the low hurdles
event under twenty-five seconds; but. on the
other hand, 1t Is a still greater mistake to
believe that he was a phenomenal athlete
before he came to the university. He had
never before broad jumped more than twen-
ty-one feet at the most. and his best record
in the high hurdles was over seventeen Sec
onds. 1t Is therefore due to Murphy's
coaching that the greatest track athlete OF
America. or perhaps Of the world. has been
developed.
Kraenzlein used to get over the hurdles
"any old way" before Mike Murphy taught
he had learned better style 1t was one
adapted to his own peculiar methods Of
taking the hurdles. 1t is interesting to note
the progress which has been made In the
hurdles and also some of Mike Murphy's
methods In obtaining these results. First
Of ALL one maxim Of Murphys must be set
down at the start, that the same style Is
not to suit every man. When man sig
miles his intention to become a candidate
for the hurdle event Murphy will get him to
go over one hurdle naturally in his own
way. He can then see whether the candi-
date has any ability. and If he has the nat
ural gait Of the man may be observed. It
is obvious to every one that different sized
men will do best with various styles. but
this simple truth was never brought out in
the field Of track sports before Murphy took
the helm. The candidate after these pre-
linlinaries will be shown the proper posi-
ton In going over the hurdles. One Of the
important features in the styles Of these
men now. and one which has much to do
with their increase in speed, Is the fact
without any hitch or backward movement
going over the hurdles. The arms should
come up naturally, as In running, and
should not be raised above the shoulders.
The head should 60 forward toward the
pull and the jumping leg should be brought
across the hurdle quickly so as to land
almost simultaneously with the other leg.
All these features are beautifully Illus
trated when one gets in line with one Of
the murders, say Kraenzlein, and observes
that his head does not seem to rise at all
In going over the hurdle, and that he does
not take jump. but apparently steps over
the hurdle. 1t Is tho observance Of all these
fine points that makes the hurdler, and be-
sides this he must have speed and endur-
ance. Many hard knocks Of knees and
pected. and everything must continue with
patience.