The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-02
YIRGINIA'S CLAIM
To POINT TROPHY
IS NOT ALLOWED
Ford Not a Novice-NO
Counting of Half
Points.
By THOMAS S. RICE.


President James e. Sullivan, of the
Amateur Athletic Union. has decided
that the contest for the point trophy at
The George washington indoor meet at
Convention Hall on January > was a
tie. with Central High School Of
Washington. and the University OF VIZ
ginia. each credited with twenty-0ne
points
The first count showed this result
but Virginia disputed the decision on
TWO grounds. and W. p. Bowie, Gus
todian Of prizes, held onto the cup until
further orders. He heard from Mr.. Sui
Ivan yesterday, and viii still keep TIE
hauble.
Ford. of Virginia, won the 1,O00-yard
l,ovice race. He was In such "A hurry
to set the medal that Bowie lddded him
about his anxiety, and told him he had
already won enough such trities not ID
worry about that one. Thereupon, Ford
Enormously began telling what medals
he owned. and Bowie promptly held Up
that for the 1O0n-vard on the ground
that he was not novice. That cut
Virginia out of five points, if the cor
tention of the custodian were allowed
Rulings About Novices.
Ford was formally asked by the Viz
ginia track manager 10 write out "a state
ment Of what nc had won in athletics. IN
his letter ne specified that while at high
schools he had won interclass medals.
which did not take him out of the
novice ranks. Then he added that he
had won interscholastic prizes ia Chi
Cago and other places in events closed
TO high schools. but in which more than
ere school took part. This, says Mr.
Sullivan, took him out Of the novice
class at once. and the A. A. L. rules
distinctly state that an event open TO
more than one organization is open.
As e. sample case, Bowie asked the
A 4. I. president if the boys who
Won events at the annual outdoor field
and track meets limited strictly TO the
five Washington high schools were in
eligible 10 compete in open a. A L.
meets as novices. Mr.. Sullivan said
they we're ineligible
on this statement, Ford loses the
medal. and Virginia loses the I'VE
POINTS
Can't Claim Half Point.
The second ground on which Virginia
claimed the cup was that it had won
half a point in the high jump. The de-
CIsion on this is something like the
Irishman's fifteen reasons why MS dog
could not have bitten the victim who
nailed him TO court. the fifteenth being
that he never owned a dog in the
first place. Half points in counting for
trophies are strictly and specifically for
hidden by the A. a. L. rules for gov
erning meets. as Mr.. Sullivan gently
but firmly explains. The rules require
that If the points are TO count for q
trophy the man with the least handi-
cap is the winner in case Of tie. IF
both nave the same handicap, they
must jump or run of the tie.
A. Charrington, Of Virginia, and W
g. Bettinrer, of the Baltimore Athletic
Club. each with a handicap of three
inches. tied for third in the high jump.
Instead of pulling straws for the medal,
as they thought they had a right to
do. they jumped for 1t. as they We're
bound to do. Boettinger broke the tie,
and won the medal and the point
Charrington evolved the theory that the
extra duel with BOettinger was for the
medal. and that each should be cred
tied with half a point but the \. A. L..
rules efectually squash that contention.
Why Ruling Looks Good.
Concerning the standing Of novices,
It is perfectly clear thar n winners Of
points in dual. intercollegiate and meets
limited TO certain clubs were allowed
to retain that standing, the young ath-
Ietes would never have a show. Many
OF the best men, who can do perform
ances around worlds records, never
compete for any other organization un-
til they have graduated from school.
If these stars Of years standing were
permitted to run as novices in A. A. /.
or other meets, novice medals would be
mere pick-ups for the latest college
cracks turned loose In sport, and the
ambitious youngsters whom these
events are intended to encourage would
have no chance.
A very pertinent complaint is being
made about the way points are scored
n the indoor meets. Central High won
thirteen points at the c. w L. meet
in strictly interscholastic events IN
which Virginia could make no entries
AL Of Virginia's points were made in
free competition against all corners.
while a majority Of CentraTs points
were made in events especially limited
10 a lower grade of talent than that
which had a right TO tackle Virginia.
This certainly does not look fair, and
the suggestion has been made that if
the meet has closed inteTsChOlastiC
events, there should be two cups, one
for the best high or prep school, and
the other Tor the best club or college
team.