The Irish standard., 1908-08-08

on lilsnes of sport, writes from his
home in Chicago to the Inter-Mountain
Catholic the following letter on Irish
athletes and the records made at the
Olympic games:
Flanagans cast of the sixteen-pound
hammer Of 175 feet is indeed re-
markable performance, and must be
very near the limit of human posi-
bility III throwing the hammer of six
teen pounds. In methods of doing
things. in training and in ingenious ap-
plication OF thought to Improvement
o fconditions things have changed
since was boy. 1t would be impos-
sible forty years ugo for Flanagan or
any other heavyweight to hurl the six
teen.pound hammer 175 feet. knew
in my time the greatest hammer men
then living. They were the Caledoni-
IN Celts, Donald Dipnie, Rory McClel.
Ian, and tie one-armed giant, Sandy
setting fortn"tpeir attitude. as follows:
Flemming. Their regulations as giant
athletes and champions of the ham,
mer were as great as are now the
names of Flanagan and McGrath.
In those days the hammer was fitted
to a handle of seasoned elm or second
growth Of hickory. Now the handle is
made of elastic wire, which in the tri.
pie turn. within the seven-foot circle,
gives an impetus to the hammer, when
leaving the hands of the thrower, i'm
possible under the old conditions. The
application of the pneumatic tire to
the trotting "sulky' lowered the har-
ness record twenty seconds. and the
introduction of the wire handle in the
hammer ring added at least fourteen
feet to Donald Dinnie's greatest cast.
That is to say, if Dinnie were now
living and in condition he would beat
his own record fourteen feet
The Irish and Irish-Americans are
the greatest athletes in the world
The records prove it. Let us take
few. The highest recorded leap.
feet 5ah inches, is held by Michael F.
Sweeney. The fastest hundred yards
ever run by man since the world be.
gan, SO far as we know, was run by
Arthur Duffy and Dan Kelly. In all
probability these records for the hun
dred sprint will never be lowered. To
accomplish this wonderful feat called
for such phenomenal reserve of elec-
trio energy, such quickness of thought
and action, such a grouping and con-
centration of alertness. grit, nerve.
sand" and lightning speed. that un-
less the athlete was trained to the
minute, and the heart in superb condi
tion, the sprinter would drop dead in
his fight.
The worlds fastest half mile. ] min.
ute SO 2-3 seconds, has before it the
name Of Fitzpatrick patrick of the
church,. Hugging the name is that
of Horan, 1851; Burke of Boston, 1:57;
and that Of Frank Cregan, 1853. These
are marvellous records. The swiftest
amateur mile ever run, minutes Is
3-5 seconds, was accomplished by an
lrishman, Thomas Patrick Connell,
who also holds the three-quarter mile
record, the mile and a quarter and
mile and a half records.
The Marathon championship, Olym.
pic games. say twenty-five miles run in
two hours and fifty-one minutes, is
held by William Sherring, an Irish
Canadian, and member of St. Patrick's
Athletic club. Hamilton, Canada. The
Boston Marathon races, same distance
run four years ago. was won by John
Mccartney. An Irishman, Patrick
O'Connor. holds the record-24 feet
11A inches-for the running broad
jump.
Weisht.throwing is game for men
Of strength an dactivity combined,
and here the men of Irish blood excel
the world. Here or abroad 1t is the