The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
LACK DISTANCE MEN
Yankees Are 0utclaSSed BY
Foreign Runners.
SHOULD TRAIN YOUNGSTERS
Ernest HjertberE, Trainer OF the
IriSh-American Athletic Club, Ad-
vocates Development of City Boys
and the Organization of Cross
cOuAlry Clubs for the Young.

our Olympic team covered themselves
and America with glory by defeating
most Overwhelmingly England and all
countries in field and track athletics
They did what we expected Of them,
and while they fell down IN a number
Of events they exceIIed in a majority says
Ernest Hjertberg. trainer OF the Irish
American Athletic Club
After meet Of this kind there are al
VAS some things 70 be learned, and
snail try 10 point out some Of them
and also ways Of overcoming them
First and foremost our Olympic rep
resentative should insist On the olympic
committees OF The different countries
keeping the drawings Of positions. ar
ranging Of heats. arranging Of events. and
important matters Of this kind In theif
own hands They should give hnal de-
cision in case OF protest This would nave
done away with the unpteasantness OF
this meet. In the picking Of the team,
the following men, who scored for cur
teaul-Horr a points. Ginen g points.
I CIoughan g points, and ROBBINS Is
Z pointsj-Uere not selected and had 70 pay
/ their own way. OF the clubs had 10 pay It,
Z tN4ES 70 q LaAI-T IA ---- --------'-
would uot have been so had we started
I in Immediately after the last Olympic
| championships 10 devise ways and means
/ Of getting funds 70 send a big team over.
I as We knew would have 10 be done, oW-
/ fuE 10 some men being likely 70 be more
1 affected than others by the climate
Murphy Proves Worth
There were a number who made Fight
70 have Mike Murphy. a man who under
/ stands his business. take charge Of the
men
] That he was the man for the position
l he has proved 10 Us. and the good work
I OF the team can be largely attributed 10
I hin
The wonderful work Of the MetropOli-
I tan Association athletes brings up the
{ wee akness OF all other districts and
I shows rs that they do not Go their part
I in the building Up Of athletics In most
I cases they get hold Of college men when
I they graduate and make 10 effort .
I build up the city boys 10 make them
Z competent 20 take part in championships
+ This should not be They should Jry
TO foster athletics by giving the local
& bows 4 chance 10 become proficient by
/ coaching and good facilities In looking
. over the summaries Of events Il IS ap-
parent that II the 5.201-ueter sJeepl=-
] chase. three-uliIe team race. dve-1lile r-1n-
I s5c--e-er walk, teu-ulile walk 3-51--
meter team race. hop. step. and jump
and javsIin. both styles we are way hs-
/ mind other countries. This Il not because
We cannot learn to do them but because
there IS no effort made 70 train for them
I as there are no championships with those
events included II would be a good idea
for these to be added 70 championship
rrozrarues
To show what can be done when our
bows take hold Of anything sSe have
I Only 10 draw attention 20 The Marathon
n race. Il is the Boston Athletic Associz-
rioa % whom may be given a big share
q the credit for The winning OF this
event
The Boston a. a were the lzsJ 10 ruz
this classic event. and made Il one OF
the great features OF the year Al first
the Americans were seldom placed. while
I the Canadians ran away with the t-c-
phies IN the last couple Of years cur
boys have learned more about this kind
OF distance running with the result that
we landed a winner n the Marathon
Popular in England.
C-oss-country running and walking
clubs are popular II England, and from
them that country is drawing ner best
distance men Why would Il not bs pos
sible % awaken similar interest lsTe II
America
SUPPOSE five or SIX towns IN some sec
ton unite in forming a CrOss-oouHVTy
association Teams Of young men e
eighteen years OF age OF IhereabOUJs
could be made Up by preliminary trials
and q series Of contests held n each
town This would bring many young men
into competition. and the system could
De enlarged to cover a country or even
a state
- Cross-country and distance running Is
/ not restricted 10 any particular SIZE Of
men excepting possibly the heavy
weights Boys should begin with road
walking and take mp c-oss-coUnrry work
as a later development when nearing ma
I turitv. The stamina required for sue
cessfuI distance running VIII increase
with the work.
I In distance running it wfU Be well %
D thoroughly mix the work alternating the
D training over crosS-couutry ground with
road work. for which the country offers
better facilities than the city Road run
ming can be done at night after bust
5 ness hours. and VIII ne found 70 be benc-
y fetal. especially 10 those who are closely
5 confined all day
) Don't Try TO cultivate a long stride.
which IS particularly bad form The
weight should be thrown on the bah Of
; the foot. and not on the toes II is vel
s to remember. too. that the movement Of
yhe body above the waist should be
smooth al all times. the work Of running
being from the hips downward Breathe
) naturally. and after a time this move
msnJ VIII be quite as natural as IN taking
! q quiet. easy walk