Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-28

English tryouts a couple Of weeks ago
first place in the 400 meters was won by
A. Patterson of Sheffield in the poor time
of f~ifty-one and three-fifths seconds, bat
this is no sample, of what might be de-
veloped out of the English championship,
the pick of which will go to the scratch
in tho Stadium. Probably f. II. Montague
Of the London Athletic club will be one
of these, for he ran fairly for the quar-
ter all through last season, the English
championship being one of his best races.
Nothing very formidable in this line comes
from Ireland or Scotland.
On the continent the fastest man appears
to be Bellin de Coteau of the Societe A.th-
letique de Montrouge France, the present
French record holder and champion and
whose best time for the 400 meters is fifty
seconds. The best Swede is c. A. loren,
who has done fifty-one and ~seven-tenths
seconds, though in last years champion
ship X. Stenberg of Goteberg won in fifty
two and four-fifths seconds. Exactly the
same figures have been credited to George
Bank, the Norwegian champion, while r.
Stenberg, the Finnish record holder. is two
fifths of a second faster. ]. Runge. who. it
will be remembered. came to st. Louis
in 1901, has the German record. with fifty
one and one-fifth seconds and the Belgian
record is fifty-three and o~ne-fifth seconds
by ". Jacquemin. There should be no fear
of any stiff opposition from the Hungarians
in this event, as y. N-cstccky, the cham
pion. has only done fi.tv-'our and four
fifths seconds. The Russian champion,
Paul Lidvau, is still slower. his record be-
ing fifty-five and two-fifths seconds. There
is not the least fear but N. A. Merriam,
Chicago; ]. c. Carpenter. Cornell; II. P.
Ramey, Chicago, or w. c.. Prout, Boston,
of the American team can defeat the best
OF the continental cracks.
In the s~OO-Mle-er Race.
The 800 meters is bound to be ope of the
best contests on the program and with
every possibility of the Olympian record
berg knocked sky high. Several Of the
wise ones who are good at picking the win
ners think that with Sheppard first place
is the easiest sort of a cinch for America.
II there was anything to warrant that
Sheppard will do one minute fifty-four
seconds for the 500 meters in England II
would be a safe gamble that he would have
a fair chance of the event. But there is
a good precedent to go by that the Irish
American Athletic club runner will not
clock as fast time abroad as at home. No
American ever yet did, not even the great
Lon myers, VINO lTleu II more lldn OnCt
and who always found that he was a sec
ond or two faster in America than in
England, Perhaps Shepard may upset the
theory, but II is hardly likely.
The foremost English entry in the race
will be II. Just of Cambridge university,
and he will have as a second string Fair
bairn-Crawford Of Dublin university, the
present English and Irish champion. On
a cold, raw day last March and on a soggy
track. Just ran the half mile in one
minute and fifty-five and four-fifth
seconds, the event being the an
nual varsity match between oxford and
Cambridge, and a thing to be remembered
was that the Cantab had no one to push
him nor was he puffed or striding badly
when he crossed the finish line. Just is
a big. raking fellow standing six feet high
T and is said to move along with a fine free
stride. Fairbarn-Crawford has a record
on grass of one minute tifty-seven anc
one-fifth seconds, made last year
and is reported to be much fastei
: this season. so that the man WHIT
lands in front Of either the Dark Blue Of
j the Trinity man will have no easy tasl
before him.
OF the other American selections Coe
Michigan. and Jones, Pennsylvania seen
the most reliable. Paul Pilgrim, who die
such fine work two years ago at Athens
may find his form at the right time ant
again surprise the critics by doing the un
expected. Very likely ]. d. Lightbody viii
devote his attention to the longer distance
Coe is a good half miller and if he SHOULD
happen to strike a favorable day win b
well up with the leaders. and the sam
might be said of Jones and OF Bromllow o
the Irish-American Athletic club. An eT
y ratio sort Of a starter in this event frOu
abroad will be q. n. Morphy OF DublT
university. holders OF the Irish record o
> one minute fifty-three and four-fifths sec
o onds. When the notion takes him he
liable to run a smashing race and the yer
next time out he is just as liable TO b
rotten; therefore, should he hit the stadluI
in the right mood, he will be up with tn
van.
Is The best of the Continental delegatio
II will be Kristian Hellstrom. holder OF N
n Swedish records for 500. 500 and 1000 meter
IN and II is now reported that he is good Il
Il, 1866 for the middle distance. He has bee
IN a resident OF England for the last yes
st or so and will have the same advantag
IN over our men as have the Englishmel
e France will be represented by II. Delog
or who has covered the distance on one min
In ute fifty-nine and o~ne-fifth seconds la
de year, and It is said that he Is much fast
c this season. The second string for a
Id French viii be Pouillot. nearly as good