Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-20
ENGLAND HAS
WINNING LEAD
NO OTHER TEAM NOW CAN
OVERCOME 1T
AFRICANS HOPE TO BE FIRST IN
FIELD SPORTS
United Kingdom Began Olympic
Games with Great Advantage In
Points Scored, in Which No
Other Nation Competed

LONDON, July 19-The United
Kingdom which, before the opening OF
the Olympic games at the stadium had
a big lead over all other nations in the
number of wins in the contest for SUI
premacy in all sports, most of which,
however, were scored in competition in
which no other nation took part, al
most doubled that lead during the past
week, and furthermore, overlook the
American team in the count for track
and field events.
But this has not served to dishearten
the American athletes and those or
their countrymen who accompanied
them to England. James e. Sullivan,
the American commissioner, said to the
Associated Press this evening:
I'VE are here to win the champion
ship in field sports and we are going to
do it. despite the handicap from which
we are suffering This handicap has
been twofold.
I'm the first place, the men came to
a country having the worst possible
climate for those unused to it, and this
affected them very seriously, more ser1-
ously than those not engaged in the
games have any idea Of. 1t is not only
that the men cannot get into their best
form, but the weather conditions make
them low spirited. They hoped to get
a little sunshine at Brighton, but 1t
has been as bad there as in London.
with which we have had to contend,
is the manner in which the heat draw
ings have been computed. The draw
ings have gone against us in the 1900
meter race, in which our best men,
Sheppard and Halstead, were pitted
against each other, and the same thing
occurred in the 500 meter event, the
heats of which will be run off tomor-
row. Sheppard and Halstead were
drawn against each other for second
time. Bromilow and Ramey also have
been put into a heat together in this
event. while in two other heats Of the
800 meters not a single American has
been drawn.
ut either is extraordinary bad lucl
or the manner in which the drawings
have been made that has resulted IL
such unfavorable conditions for the
Americans. We have tried to find ou
how the drawings are conducted, bu
have not been able to get anything
from the amateur athletic officials ex
cept the reply the drawings have beer
made in the usual way
1.-THE United Kingdom had its innings
in the distance events last week; thu
Americans will have their turn thi!
week in the sprints, hurdles and th'
Jumps"
The men who are to uphold the SUI
premacy of Americans in these sports
have been training at Brighton. L
will be impossible to surpass thu
United Kingdoms total of wins in al
sports, but the Americans expect very
early in the week to wipe out the lead
of fourteen points in the score for field
sports, which the United Kingdom al
the present time holds over them. The
figures up to Sunday night, counting
by the American method, in the field
and track events. are:
United Kingdom, 81; America, 40
Eleven events still remain to be con-
tested, exclusive Of the Marathon race
in all of which the American team viii
add to its score. These events are the
standing jump, running broad jump
high jump, pole vault, 100. 200, 400 and
800 meter fiat races. 10 and 400 meter
hurdles and the relay race.
While, OF course, the Americans real
ize that none Of these will be a walk
over, they do not fear the European
competitors as much as they do the
two Canadians-Kerr. the sprinter, who
has easily beaten every one he has met
in England, and Archibald, the clever
pole vaulter.
If the Indian, Longboat. is allowed to
run in the Marathon. as 1t is believed
he will be, 1t is likely that the prize
In this event again VIII go to Canada.
There have been reports In circulation
Of accidents to the Canadian runner
and also that ne is not well, but these
are not given much credence. There Is
lot of money being bet on the result
Of the Marathon. the Engllshmen freely
backing A. Duncan Of the Sanford Har-
riers, and 7. Jack, another smart long
distance man, while the Canadians are