The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-13
ST. LOUIS OFFERS GOOD
FIELD FOR ATHLETIC MEETS.
Sport Well Supported Here When Presented Properly and Under
Good Auspices-Gossp of Recent Meets-Flan-
agan and His Records.

Interest taken in the various athletic
meets held in this city recently. particu-
larly in the tournament conducted at the
Fair Grounds last week. indicates clearly
that there Is a good field for amateur sport
Of the sort in st. Louis. II 1t is conducted
properly. Every athletic meeting Of i'm
portance In the last year has drawn a GOOD
crowd, although several have been held un-
der distinctly trying circumstances.
So promising is the outlook. in fact, hat
there are prospects for several indoor meets
this winter. James ]. Flanagan. brother OF
the champion hammer thrower. is discuss
ing the advisability Of giving a couple OF
meets in the Coliseum this winter. In con-
nection with the local officials Of the A. A.
u, while the schools and colleges Of the
city are also planning at least one meeting
Of the sort.
have a good series Of indoor games this win
ter. and it is to be hoped that the city
will become recognized as an athletic center
in this respect. Plenty Of good material Is
here for games Of all sorts. but few local
athletes. comparatively. get a chance to
compete in the few meetings given under
present circumstances each year.
In discussing the matter last week. James
]. Flanagan stated that he believed the pub
ietic meet in this city il It was held in an
accessible location, and was conducted in
first-class shape. Comfortable quarters
would have to be provided. he believed. to
draw a crowd.
In the st. James Parish games four weeks
ago the crowd which turned out to see the
events proved that the most intense inter-
est is felt in athletics here. In spite Of in
sufficient accommodations and seating ca
pacity for only a fraction Of the attendance,
cess. and hundreds of persons stood in the
sun all afternoon to watch the events.
The Fair Grounds arena is about the best
place where games have been held of late.
but the absence OF level ground for the 100
yard dash is a serious drawback, the bank
! ing of the track rendering 1t necessary to
downward slant for the first half and a
slight upward slant for the last half of
its distance. Records made on this course.
accordingly. would not be accepted by the
A. A.. U.
Moreover. this same absence Of level
ground will invalidate any weight or jump
Really Of no value on the grounds. Il the
band stand in the center OF the arena was
removed and the ground made absolutely
level. an unequaled amphitheater would be
afforded for games of all sorts.
In last weeks games. the feature was
easily the weight-throwing Of John F1ana-
gan. In the hammer throw the smallest
feet. yet he defeated the field as easily as
the 56-pound weight throw he also proved
far superior to any local man. and he Is.
of course. unapproachable in the discus
throw.
His three throws with the last-named
implement. when he made in succession
throws of 100 feet. l22 feet I inch. and 122
letic contest in the world, as in each case
he broke a worlds record. The question
Of the ground being slightly out of the
level, however. invalidates three perform.
ances. which would otherwise stand on the
records Of the A. A. Z.
In his. last throw the discus aliRhted on
Flanagan was standing. II Was there.
fore, probably exactly on the same level as
the spot he was standing. Yet the fact
down hill. and that there would be some
question always existing as to the value Of
a throw made on ground: portions OF which
otherwise brilliant performance from being
The value of good ground for athletic
In the st. James Paris games Flanagan
broke the record for the hammer throw.
but the record has not yet been accepted |
question involved being the nature Of the |
ground.
city last week was not so impressive as HI: |
first. so far as performance is Concerned Ne
won the loo..yard dash. It is true. giving his
he was lahoring hard the last thirty Yards
and won with great effort. ~
Horse classes shown In the arena had so
torn up the ground that an absolutely
out Of the question. The lOo.yard course
had been smoothed and rolled carefully. but |
the ground was still full Of little ineuuait
ties and small Jumps Of clay. The conse-
quence was that Duffy eemed to he thrown
out Of his stride in the early stage of the
race.
In the last twenty yards. when the climax
of speed should be reached in the loo he !
was still laboring slightly and ne did not
Ing placed anywhere near the figure II was
No man living could have run
100 yards over the arena course in any
thing short Of 10 20 seconds and that would
Of the grounds. Ten and three.afths was
about the time Of Wednesday's
race.
William o'F1ynn: the 81. Louis University
yard dash; seems to give promise Of de-
veloping into a first-class Splinter. He
won the go last Friday in good styie. and
while the time announced may be accepted
corded to the Duffy race, he, nevertheless,
up a sparkling performance.
James Flanagan. brother Of th9 hammer
thrower; advised Young o'Flynn to stick to
the Inc spfadhens s 9 fufus r.'s sar seeing EEL him race
faithfully. and lived properly IN adj
yising O'F1ynn to adhere 10 the snrinting
game, he said:
'If you are going In for athletics at all.
i. II sprinttng is your speciality. devote all
YOUR energies to It. and LET the other
branches of athletics alone. Every branch
, asnIs.,cffh n0tc Il u ns aim Dssn ,E raus to 5, such Ss !
expert in many Of them. THIS ID an age Of