The Washington times., 1903-02-01
SOME F<hNOUY A7HLETES BECAINE CHAMPIONS
/usI Hoa0 Bernard I. UIef6rS,
Arlhny Du1ey, E.E.BA5ke,
II. F. Saoeeuey l. S. 4HlE
ehelI, /ohn Flanagan, Gee.
K. Gray and Okhey Stars
Hen Tier Lanrels.

left him after so many strenuous
efforts. On his second trial his legs
and body were wen over the bar but
his elbow just grazed the slender
stick Of wood, causing it to fail TO
the ground to the utter disgust OF
the athlete and spectators.
Since Flanagan defeated Mitchell
for the hammer throwing supremacy,
the New York Dolicemans has bad
everything his own way. Ds Witt,
of Princeton, and Plow. of California,
are the only men who are liable to
bother Flanagan. When the irish
giant frs came to this country he
was as green and as modest as nne
would wish to see, and ne stilI insists
that some strapping young chap viii
beat his record throwing the sixteen
pound hammer.
At the Half Nile.
It has been suggested that Honister.
the great Harvard middle distance
runner Of a few years ago, was a bet
ter man than Fitzpatrick at half
mile.o HOLSTERS half mile in / min
ute 54 2-5 seconds on that windy day
in April, 1897, was certainly a grand
performance, for he had no pace after
the first quarter mile. II may be
fair to say that on warm day with
conditions perfect, the Harvard mans
-
formance at KHpatrick's record race.
But that word "if' is treacherous-
Had It not been for the mishap to
KtIpatTick's wearing apparel there is
no question in my mind that ha
would have gone at least five yards
faster than he did. There are other
events too numerous to mention that
viii always be referred to by those
connected with the sport in days
gone by. Lou Meyers. Malcolm Ford,
and others of the old guard have
passed away, and the younger men
who succee led them are now consid-
cred old timers.
His Memory VIII Live Forever.
The athletes who are to come WIN
never hear the soft voice of Father
Bin'' Curtis, as he called the num-
bers. and lined the contestants up for
the start. He, too. has passed on.
but, the memory Of him who made
America the foremost nation in ath-
letics. viii live forever. for there can
be no athletic history of the United
States without mention Of Curtis.
The different trainers who. deueE-
oped the meG who made athletics
famous will continue to develop new
champions to fill the places left
vacant by the older men. At any
collegiate meet you viii always find
a group of oldtime athletes discussing
the times when things were so and
so, and whether a certain athlete OF
years ago was a better man than his
youthful successor of to-day.
How They Retire.
1t will ever be thus A new man is
discovered, ne is developed from a
novice into a champion, and for four
or FIVE years he carries all before
him. Gradually he tires Of athletics,
and finally retfres, sometimes unde-
feated, but usually because he made
the trip 10 the welI/once TOO often
Yet there is some consolation in
knowing that you were once in the
front rank.
Since 1900 athletics have been on
the decline. The champion Of to-day,
with one or two exceptions, would
stand but little chance against the
topnotchers of FIVE years ago. There
will be a lull for a few years, and
then another batch of record breakers
vin crop out Until that time comes
we must simply wait and be content
with what has been done in the past.