Evening star., 1908-12-20

Broad Jump. X. Irons
Discus st;reek,-M. Sheridan.
Irtsh-American A. c.. .124 IT. 8 In.
| Shot put l2-pound)-Ralph
Rose. Olympic A. c.. 81 IT. 3 In.
Shot put tJ8 pound for height)
! p. Mcdonald, Irish American 16 IT. y In
Not since the days OF Wefers. Orton
and KraenZlein has America had such
galaxy Of high-class athletes and worio
beaters as those who upheld the stars
and Stripes on track and field this year.
Records which have stood unassailed TOT
years went by the board, and more new
marks were established than in any preVl-
Gus year. The list of new names IN
scribed in the athletic roll Of honor speaks
we'll for the rapid development of the
American runner. jumper and weight
thrower. Nineteen hundred and eight VIII
go down in athletic annals as one long
to be remembered for the high standard
set by the representatives OF this coun-
try.
Considering the Olympic championships
alone, In which Uncle Sans sons demon
strated their prowess by establishing ten
new Olympic records and four world 8
marks, it was a remarkable year. Pitted
luck all against them. they battled giori-
ously to a wonderful victory. Long after
the i'll feeling arising from this meeting
has been forgotten, the sterling perform
ances of Americas sturdy athletes will
be remembered.
But after they had been welcomed home
as heroes OF the Olympic meeting, they
did not put aside their running clothes
and spiked shoes and rest on their laurels.
Instead, they went out hunting for more
honors. for their appetites had been whet-
ted by their triumphs abroad. and as a
result old Father Time was led a merry
chase all through the fall. and he didn't
get a chance for ''breather" until after
the national championships in Madison
Square Garden couple Of weeks ago.
When those games ended he was "all in''
and wabbling badly.
Leader Hard to Pick.
1t is q difficult task to pick out one ath-
lete and say that his was the best work
Of the year. But of all the fine perform
ances, probably those OF Melvin w. Shep-
pard Of the Irish-American Athletic Club,
winner Of the 800 and 1.5OO meter races
at the Olympic championships, in both of
which he established worlds records, as
we'll as defeating England's crack middle
distance runners, were the greatest. His
records Of / minute 52 As seconds for SOC
meters and minutes 3 4-5 seconds for the
1900 meters are grand achievements, and
1t may be years before these marks are
lowered. All through the year he has
run consistently, experiencing few de-
feats. He has no peer in middle distance
running.
Another member OF the Irish-American
Athletic Club must be placed high on the
honor roll. but his triumphs were IN an
other branch Of athletics. What Mel
Sheppard was to middle distance running
Martin Sheridan was to the field events.
1t fell to his lot to beat the Greeks at
their own game. and his throw of ia
feet inches with the discus Greek
seen. Part of the year he has been
Handicapped by injuries. but still he has
been able to win his full share of honor
and prizes.
1t would be almost safe to trust the
reputation of America in the hands Of a
team made up alone of the athletes of
the Irish-American Athletic Club. No
athletic organization in the world has
ever collected such a versatile and high
class team as now represents the Winged
Fist Club 1t is natural. therefore, that
the majority OF the years records were
made by members Of this club. No atn-
letic meeting Of consequence Is held nova
days without the Irish club carrying
incidentally establishing new marks for
future champions to strive to better,
World Record Heave.
p. Mcdonald of the Irish club waited
until the national indoor championships
before he made his world record heave
with the fifty-six-pound weight Of 16
feet % inch. It was a great exhibition
of strength and skill. for James S.
Mitchell, the record holder for years and a
powerfully built man. fell far short Of it,
kho,, III 6A G
were all In fine fettle. as attested by the
throw Of ITO feet Az inches by John
Flanagan In the Olympic games under
trying conditions; another throw OF l19
feet 3Z inches at Celtic Park August 80;
the worlds record put by Ralph Rose of
the Olympic Athletic Club Of 81 feet 3
inches for the twelve-pound shot at Celtic
Park August 20, and numerous other
record tossers.
There was a remarkably fine field of
hurdlers at work over the sticks. and TO
A. B. Shaw, formerly Of Dartmouth and
now Of the Chicago Athletic Club. goes
the honor of establishing a new record
Of 15 is seconds for the 120-yard hurdle
race. Johnny Garrels of Michigan and
Forrest Smithson Of the Multnomah Ath-
letic Club ran close to the record on sew
eral occasions. This trio Of high hurdlers
cannot be equaled by any other country.
Shaw. Garrels and ]. J. Eller OF the irish
American Athletic Club are in a class by
themselves over the low sticks. Eller Is
probably the best man in competition; he
Is rarely hard pressed in the 22O-yard
race.
Rector Stands Out.
With the exception of Jimmy Rector of
the University Of Virginia. who Is credited
with running the 100 yards In . 3-5 Sec
onds. the sprinters were not up to the
American standard Nat Cartmell Of
won both sprints in the
intercollegiate games for the third sue
cessive year. but he was not in condition
for the Olympic games. Some of the ath-
letic club sprinters are developing rapidly,
and it is probable that the record will be
equaled in 1909.
America Is making the greatest strides
in long-distance running. the best per-
formance of the year being that OF 25
minutes 10 20 seconds, made by T. J.
Collins of the Irish-American Athletic
Club in the five-mile race at the national
indoor championships. This is a new
American record. and compares favorably
with 25 minutes II 2-5 seconds, the time
made in the Olympic games for the dis
tance. Another sterling exhibition was
that given by M. p. Driscoll of the Mer-
curry Athletic Club. who ran two miles in
the same games in which Collins COM
peted, covering the distance In 9 min
utes % 2-5 seconds.
There was an especially fine collection
of performers in the field events, a few of
those in the weight contest having al
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