Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-17
ATHLETIC SPORTS At
J., JAMESTOWN MEET
Much Interest Felt in the East
Regarding Coming of Kelly,
the Western Splinter.
Fuji, a Wonderful Japanese
Runner, is Also Expected to
Make His Appearance.
By E. r. Bushnell.

For the first time in the history of the
Amateur Athletic Union its national cham
pionship track and field meeting, which Is
to be held September in conjunction with
the jamestown Va) exposition, will be
featured by the presence of several college
teams, not only from the east, but from
the west as well. The assurance that many
college champions will be on hand is due
to two causes. The first is the rule re-
Gently adopted by the A. A. U. making 1t
impossible for college men to represent
athletic clubs under any conditions. The
second is the growing interest in all forms
Of track and field athletics, and particu-
larly in the A. A. U. championships.
Interest in Kelly, the Splinter.
The location of the meet at jamestown
will make it possible for the best college
men in the east to be on hand, a thing
which was impossible year ago, when the
games were held in Spokane, Wash. That
meet was pretty much a sectional affair,
with the Pacific coast athletes having
everything their own way. One thing is
absolutely certain, and that Is that the
1O0-yards dash will bring out the very
finest sprinters the east possesses. This
Is because Dan Kelly. who won the 100
yards at Spokane in the world record time
of 8 3-5 seconds, is to come east to defend
his title
There is no denying the fact that the east
is mighty skeptical of the ability of Kelly
to run in time better than 10 seconds. The
fact that an investigation committee from
the A. A. u. looked carefully into the MAX
ing of this record before it was allowed
has in no way dispelled the disbelief of
the eastern men. In their minds there is
just one method by. which Kelly can prove
his great speed. That is by coming east
and meeting the best of our men. Sew
eral efforts have been made within the
las m Kp1lv east hit he has
refused to take any chances, and in his
action in this respect has served to de-
crease the estimate of eastern men In his
reputed ability to travel in 8 3-5 seconds.
Fortunately, there need be no question
that Kelly will have to make good If he
comes east. To beat such men as Cart
OF Cornell, Dodge of Harvard and Rulon-
Miller of Princeton, to say nothing or Par
sons Of Wisconsin. he will have to equal
If not beat AS seconds. And in the 40
in the world record time of 81 Is seconds
If he Is to beat out Cartmen at this dis
tanee, for the Pennsylvania man Is the
fastest furlong Splinter the east has had
since the days Of Wefers, who still holds
the world record.
From reports which have come from the
University of Oregon, where Kelly is stu
dent, 1t is evident that he doesn't expect to
sustain his reputation against the east. His
trainer has announced that Kelly Is OF a
very nervous disposition and that he cannot
retain his WONDERFUL speed Tor more Imam
another year at the most This looks as
though the westerners, who so stoutly
maintained that Kelly actually made the
time credited to him, are themselves doubt
full of his ability to do it with competent
timers.
A Swift and Mysterious Jap.
Additional interest will center In this
race because of the news that the wonder
full Japanese athlete, Full, who was like
wise credited with record Of 0 3-5 seconds.
will be on hand to measure his speed with
that of Kelly and the other American fly
ers. The Jap is even more of an unknown
quantity than Kelly. 1t is said that his
time of 3-5 was the result of using an
electric timing device. If this is the case, it
Is doubtful IL he can be much faster than
10 seconds, because an electric stop watch
times much faster than the watches held
in the hard. Several efforts have been
made to time sprinters by watches which
are controlled by electricity, the same as
are used in automobile races But in every
case they have made 4-5-second sprinters
out Of men who previously had never done
better than 10 is seconds. The electric
stop watch has proven impracticable when
used for sprint races. but IL II could be
utilized with accuracy 1t would greatly sim
plify the business of timing sprint races
But by no means all of the interest in
these games will center In the 100-yards