Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-15
AMERICAN BREAKS RECORD
]. J. Flanagan Takes First Gold Medal
for Hammer Throw.
SHEPPARD WINS THE 1,5Oo.METER
l.. G.. wient1 Of New York Wins Third
Heat in the Observation-Disclosures
Cycling Race-Weather
IL Poor.
;HEPPARD WINS THE 1,5Oo.METER

|
LONDON. July 14.-The first morning OF
real work of the fourth international Olym-
pic games, which were opened by King
Edward at the Stadium at Shepherds Bush
yesterday, was carried out under rather
unsettled weather conditions and there was
a small audience. The results, however
were highly satisfactory to the American
spectators and contestants. John ]. Elan
agan Of the Irish American Athletic club
broke the Olympic record In the hammer
throw and won the first gold medal for
any event. M. J. McGrath, New York Ath-
letic club, was second in the hammer throw
and won the silver medal.
The first bronze medal to be awarded
went to c. S. Walsh, a Canadian, who
was third in the hammer throw. Another
American success was scored in the twen-
ty-kilometer cycling race, in which l. G.
Wientz, New York Athletic club, qualified
by winning the third heat. Melvin w
Sheppard, American, won the final in the
l,5O0 meter race.
From a spectators point of view the
meeting was slow, but nevertheless the
races were well contested and the showing
good. The American victories brought
forth much American and Canadian cheer
ing.
Americans Are Fortunate.
The Americans were rather fortunate in
the drawings for the hammer throw, three
sections of which will be contested today.
Talbot, Rose and Sheridan were drawn in
the first section, Burroughs and Horr in
the second and Flanagan, ellis and Nc
Grath in the third.
Walsh of Canada won In the first section
of the hammer throw, with a throw of 159
feet IL inches. Talbot, American, second,
157 feet u inch; Demming, Sweden. third,
141 feet 3 inches. Rose did not contest. In
the second section of the hammer throw
Nicholson, England, made 157 feet 81
inches; Horn, America, 14 feet Il inch;
Fyfe, England, 122 feet Ga inches. Bur-
roughs, America, did not throw.
In the third section of the hammer
throw McGrath. America, threw 167 feet II
inches, breaking the British record. Elan
agan, America, threw 165 feet 2h inches;
Gillis, America, 149 feet 619 inches.
Walsh, Canada, McGrath and Flanagan,
America, qualified for the final.
In the final Flanagan finished first with
a throw of 167 feet Il inches, and Walsh,
Olympic record. McGrath was second with
a throw of 167E feet Ii inches, and Walsh,
Canada, third with 1853 feet ~ inches.
ShAtcu SthteB WINS FIRST
When the result OF the hammer throwing
was announced, It being the first final Of
the fourth Olympiad, the Stars and Stripes
were run up on the arena flagstaff to an
nounce that the United States had gath
cred in the first event to be decided. In
fact, 1t was a double victory. Flanagan
taking the first gold and McGrath the
first silver medal thus far awarded. There
was a great burst of cheering from the
American sections of the stands, as the
flag broke out. Canada Joined in, for
Walsh wins the bronze medal.
Heavy showers which followed the fine
weather Of the beginning interfered with
the last events Of the morning meeting,
including the third heat Of the twenty
kilometer bicycle race. In the first laps
Of this contest, Wientz of America and
Young of Canada alternately held the first
two positions. Wientz won, 1888. The
fourth heat OF the twenty-kilometer was
won by Jones. England. Time: 32:S9. Cam
erou was second.
There was the greatest enthusiasm among
the American spectators and competitors
over the fact that their team captured
the first two medals of the Olympiad. The
Americans are looking for another win
this Afternoon in the finals OF the $50
meter run, but they realize that Sullivan
and Sheppard have a hard task in front
of them, as they are opposed by five Eng
lishmen. This will enable the Engllshmer
to run the race as they please.
The finals for the twenty-kilometer cy.
cling race is also down for this afternoon
and Wientz has qualified for this contest
English Good Walkers.
G. f. Larner of the United Kingdom
team easily won the first heat of the
$500 meter walk in 1882. II. E. Kerr
Australia. was second, and w ]. Palmer
England, third. No Americans participated
in the heat. In this event the first three
in each heat qualify for the finals.
f. ]. Webb, England, won the second
heat in 15:17B. In this heat, Quinn, Eng
land, finished second. and Rothman, Swe,
den, third.
Goulding of Canada won the third hea
in 15:A. Garrison, England, was second
and Rowland, New Zealand, third.
The first heat of the twenty-kilometel
cycle race was won by Meredith, England
, in 1921.
C. b. Kingsbury, England, won the sec
ond heat in 80 1874.
The third heat was won by weintz
American. Time: 1873.
sweden Takes a Race.
The fifth heat Of the twenty-kilomete
cycling race was won by Hansen, Sweden
Time: 1855.
In the draw for the three-mile team rae,
/, the United Kingdom, italy, Holland ant
! Germany We're drawn for the first heat
This insures a victory for the United
Kingdom.
In the second heat America will have t
compete against Canad and Sweden, Thl
is a handicap for the American team, 70
should II win, victory will follow a har,
! race, while the United kingdom could VIII
the first heat easily.
France has been admitted 10 the secon,
J heat in this race. The first two team
in each heat qualify for the final,
1 No Americans will compete In the con
GLIDING heats of the 4OO-mete swimming
race.
The final Of the S,5OO-meter walk wa
won by Larner, England, Wetzeb, Eng
/ land, was second and Kerr, Australia wa
@ third. The time of the winner was 1859
% The sixth heat Of the twenty-kilomete
r cycling race was won by Denny, England