Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-04-19
COATES The STAR AIHlETE.
O. A. G.. Men Win Easily in the
Columbia Meet.

There was rejoicing in College
circles in this city Saturday when
word was received from Portland
that their representatives, partici-
pating in the big meet in Colnm-
bia University had won out by a
large margin, making as points,
with Multnomah second with
27. Columbia third with II, Pa
cifc University fourth with nine,
and the Portland Y. M. G.. A.
FIFTH with FIVE points.
Coates lived up to the expecta-
tions of his admirers and carried
away three first places.
In speaking of the meet Sum
days Oregonian says:
It was about the biggest meet
as regards the number of con-
testants that was ever held, but
most OF them were members OF
relay teams, Of which there were
so many that to the spectator it
looked as if the greater portion of
the time was taken up with one
big relay race. All the regular
track events were carried on.
however, and though no records
were broken, the time in the
runs and the distances in field
events were good.
All the dashes and hurdle races
were contested in several heats.
In the 5o-yard dash, Fredell,
Kerrigan, Williams and Gearin
were the winners in the heats.
Smithson saved himself but easily
won out in the semi-hnals. He
had the hardest run to make and
had to turn a little at the ends to
come inside the posts, but he
won out. Gammie and Freddell
were close seconds. Bilodeau in
the half was easy winner. No
one could catch him from the
start.
The 5o-yard hurdles, won by
Coates, was the first appearance
of that athlete among the win
ners. Afterwards he was the
| victor in two events and was
readily the star athlete of the
meet. Kerrigau very nearly de-
feated him in this event, how
ever.
In the 44o, Smithson went
down before Gearin. This was
race of fouls and the three run
ners leading the bunch were in
one another's way constantly.
On the home stretch Williams,
of the O. A. c., cut in too close
ly before Gear1n and got properly
showed out of the way. Gearin
ran on and outstripped the un.
Kindred Smithson. Immediate
ly "Dad" Trine, the veteran.
trainer, now with the 0. A. G.
set up a howl about his men be-
ing cheated out of their just
rights. But he could not touch
the judges. who said that if they
ruled off Gearin for fouling, they
would have to rule off all the
runners, especially the man who
was fouling him. There was not
the slightest doubt that Gearin
was the winner of the event, as
the man he defeated was in no
way fouled by him.
Coates was again victor in the
high hurdles, this time easily,
neither Kerrigan nor Fletcher
coming near him after second
hurdle was passed. III.
The pole vault was strictly an
out-of. town affair. Bert Kerri-
gan dropped out at 8 feet 10
inches for fear of injuring his
weak ankle. Oscar went next
and Swami, of the o. A. c., and
Gilbert, P. u, were left to go
higher, They did not break any
record, but the did some very
pretty vaulting.
A much hotter race was run
between Columbia and Corvallis.
1t was see-saw until the last re-
lays, Bilodeau, c. u, and Will
liams, o. A. G. began to run.
Williams was fully 20 feet in the
rear at the start. and he had done
enough for one day. But he is
a man of splendid physique, and
churned along until he was close
beside Bilodeau, was alongside
him and as the crowd surged out
on the track to see the end of the