The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23
ATHLETIC RECORDS or 1904.
LONG STANDING FIGURES BROKEN
IN. MANY EVENTS.
Olympic Games and international var.
sity Match stimulate Competition
-Shrubips Great Havoc Anon. Dis.
lance Marks-Giri Athletes Do Well.

-Shrubips Great Havoc Among Dis.
tance Marks-Giri Athletes DO Well.
The year Of 1904 has been an exceptionally
brilliant one in the domain Of track and
leld sports, and when the athletic historian
OF the future sits down to write the chapter
en- the new records and first rate perform
anoes achieved, he will find 1t banner
season. No doubt the interest in physical
culture was augmented by two important
hxtures-the Olympic games andkthe inter-
national varsity match between Yale
Harvard and Oxford ambridge- latter
being remark able for the victory OF the
Americans over the Englishmen on their
own ground. Though the Olympios at st.
Louis lacked the pomp and panoply OF the
ancient festival, they served their purpose
TO degree and for the first time on Ameri-
can soil brought men together from Aus
tralia, South Africa, Greece Austria, Ger
many, Canada, Cuba and Ireland But.
outside of these two notable features OF
the season, the new crop of records was
prolific, and marks regarded as well nigh
invincible were shattered and record figures
which had withstood the assault Of genera
tons were lowered.
Sprinting has always been the most
popular department OF the modern pro-
gramme, and though nothing new came
to light at the standard distances, few
records will go on the books. AT New
Orleans, on May 10. George Megrouse had
shy at the Is yards, and his time was re-
turned as is seconds. Heretofore there
was no 25-ynrd record. so this will figure in
the future annals The old mark for rs
yards remained mistaken, but for the As
yards there was new mark by Clyde Blair,
the crack Western Splinter. On Feb. 10,
at Chicago, he covered the distance in 1-5
seconds which was not very remarkable
going, and which will probably be accepted
by the authorities.
The 40-yard record, jointly held bylno
fewer than seven sprinters, received shock
at Mechanics Hall. Boston. on Feb. IA.
A special invitation event WAS arranged,
with Dtiffey asthe star, and he started in the
first heat, but to the surprise of those pres
ent was beaten by yard by F. S. Thompson
Of Amherst College and the time announced
was Us seconds. This was worlds
record il the watches of the timers were
running at their regular gait, but there
was something wrong somewhere Tor
Duffey won the final, extended to his
II,
Quoted from the affair by the critics was
that the timers expected Dufiey to win the
first heat. and had a record ready for him,
and in the final had his true time ready for
Thompson, but Dufey upset the little panto-
MIN, by reaching the worsted in the lead
One week later the 50-yard record of
81 seconds, held by the late l.. E. Myers,
and made exactly twenty years ago, WAS
attacked simultaneously at Washington and
Chicago, and in both places new figures were
claimed. At Washington it was the annual
indoor meet OF Georget own University. and.
of course, the occasion of Duffey's annual
attack on the so-yard record. Starting two
feet behind scratch, DuTey won heat OF
the handicap from Torrey of Yale, who had
Q foot han 1icap, in 2-5 seconds. In the
final Torrey won in 3-5 seconds: Duhey
STOPPING about half way. Duffey also won
tho invitation 5o-yard event in 2-5 sec
onds, beating Torrey an inch, with Dietz
Of Georgetown and Sears Of Cornell in
third and fourth places. respectively. and
close UP. To cover the 50 yards twice in
one night in record time ought to be sufh-
cient for the record committee to accept 1t
a. genuine, but then nobody believed
Torrey to be capable OF 2-5 for the distance;
and, moreover, Dufey was far from being in
record breaking trim. as his sub 'equent
races indicated.
At the New York A. c. meet in Madison
Square Garden Duffey started in the 80-yard
handicap and in his heat came within three
yards Of 3-5 seconds, which showed that
he was OF color and not at all able to do
what was credited to him in Washington
In both places Duffey had board floor, but
the one at Washington was veritable,
spring arrangement and 1t ia said. actually
propelled Duffey across the space in record
time The Chicago onslaught on the Myers
figures occurred at the Chica Wisconsin
meet and the honors OF the night fell to
Rice OF Chicago University. He sped
over the fifty in 5 2-S seconds, the same
figures attributed to DuTey, and everything
seemed correct toward the acceptance
OF the record. Three timers agreed In the
blocking and the course was measured and
found to be three inches over fifty yards,
and all this date, with the proper af1davits,
were lodged with the authorities. Never
theless, an idea prevailed that there was
something wrong with Rice's record, and
II Ia more than likely that, with Duffey's
performance and Thompson's for the 40
yard, it viii never figure on the record books.
Later on in the spring Duffey ran the rs yards
IN 7 2-s seconds in an exhibition at Baltimore,
o feat which II done in competition would
supplant the 3-S seconds OF Wefers In 1895
and Luther Cary in 1891.
The record OF 9S-5 seconds for the
hundred" made by Duffey two years ago
was not disturbed, but Dufiey travelled
TO England and had his colors lowered by
j. W. Morton Of the South London HarTiers
in the championship. The Georgetown
runner gave the Englishman a close race,
being only six inches behind; but tho time,
10 seconds, showed that Morton was no
counterfeit. Twice afterward be beat Duirey,
starting on even terms, and on the last occa-
sion ran the 100 yards in Q AS seconds, 80
that he is now Joint holder Of the Rritish
record with Du.ey, and Morton also ran the
100 yards in II As seconds, and he now
shares the honors OF the English record
with Bradley, Downer and Duffey.
Neither In America nor England were
top notch figures for the quarter, half or
mile In any danger, but some really good
feats took place In st. Louis. especially
during the Olympic meet. In the 400 metre
Harry l.. Hnlman Of the New York A. c.,
after a splendid race, won the event In