Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-07-31
NOTED RUNNERS
IN BIG CONTEST

Who is the best long distance run
ner in America today? 1t is most
perpleXing question. The supremacy
undoubtedly lies between three men
Bonhag of the Irish American Athletic
club; Longboat of Hamilton, Ont, ana
Rowe of the University of Michigan.
OF the three, Bonhag and Longboat
have met in a three-mile match, and
although the paleface won, his victory
was indecisive because the race was
too short for the redskin to show at his
best. Another race of five miles might
throw the race in Longboat's favor
On the other hand Bonhag has
shown repeatedly that he can go five
miles with the best of them. His four
miles in POLL stands as the best per
Torrance at this distance ever done in
America, Bonhag has also run indoors
two miles in 391-5 and five miles in
25;51 2-5, both of which are sterling
performances. Few contest Bonhag's
world superiority as an indoor runner,
But outdoors the experts consider 1t
tossup among him, the Indian and
Rowe
Unfortunately, Rowe, the Michigan
der, seldom measures strides with the
A. A. U. cracks, so there is no way to
weigh his ability with that of Bonhag
and Longboat save their respective
records. Rowe's two miles in the inter-
collegiate games at Cambridge June 1
was the fastest performance at the
distance since Alex Grant of the Y. A.
c. made the American record Of
9.27 As in the fall of 1908. Before the
race Bonhag was conceded to be the
fastest two miller in the country, but
any man who can turn the distance in
1894 is entitled, to at least equal>con-
sideration with the Indoor king"
There is a chance that Rowe will |
contest for the national championship |
in September, and if he does a great |
race will be seen. The race at this |
chance than he has at shorter dis
lance races. 1t is a well-kn fact |
that the further the race. the better
the redskin likes 1t, and he does not |
begin to show his wonderful stamina
until the 10-mile mark has been pass
ed
Even before the national champion
ships, the outdoor superiority be-
tween Bonhag and the great son of the
forest may be decided. 1t is said that |
friends are just itching to
see the two get together in a three
mile race outdoors. Longboat felt his
defeat by Bonhag deeply, and after the
the mighty paleface had snapped the
worsted in front of him. So anxious
was he to retrieve his defeat Cthe lone
one of his career) that he offered Bon
bag all sorts of inducements to run
match at any distance aboue 44O yards
the very next morning. If the two ever
race again, it is a safe wager that the
Indian will break his heart rather than
nave Bonhag beat him home.
In comparing the records of the three
the conditions under which
their respective marks were made must
De taken into consideration. Bonhag's
best races have been indoors, where
wind, temperature and condition of the
course do not count.
He has never done wonderful work
outdoors. 1t may be that this is be-
cause he is essentially a board floor
runner, and it may be that he has
never right" during the outdoor sea-
son. Time will tell.
Rowe's great two miles was done I'M
Ter rather discouraging conditions; in
hat the course was swept by chilly
breeze. Longboat, too, has made most
If his record efforts when at disad-
his wonderful run in
he Boston Marathon. mid dust, sleet
and rain.