Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-20
SULLIVAN STILL CONFIDENT
SAYS AMERICANS WILL WIN IN
FIELD SPORTS.
Discusses Unjust Methods. Of Draw
ing Heats-The Marathon
Race Competitors.

count for track and field events In the
Olympic games last week. But this has
not served TO dishearten the American
athletes and those OF their countrymen
who accompanied them to England.
James +. Sullivan. the commissioner rep
resenting the United States. said TO the
Associated Press last evening:
We have come here to win the cham
pionship in field sports and We are going
10 do ii despite the handicap from which
we are suffering. This handicap has been
tWo-ioid. In the first place the men came
10 country having the wors; possible
climate for those unused To II. and this
affected them very seriously. more ssri-
ouSly than those not engaged in the
games have any idea Of IL il NOT only
that the men cannot get into their best
form. but the weather conditions make
them low-spirited. They thought 10 get
little sunshine at Brighton. but il has
been as bad there as in London.
Drawing for Heats.
The other handicap against which we
have had to contend is the manner in
which the heat drawings have been con-
Quoted. The drawings have gone against
us in the l,;OO meters race. when our best
men-Sheppard and Hastead-were pitted
against each other. and the same thing
occurred In the So0-meter event. the heats
of which will be run off tomorrow. Shop
pard and Halstead were drawn each other
for a second time. Bromilow and Kamey
also have been put into a heat together
in this event. while I'm two other heats of
the 500 meters not a single American has
been drawn. 1t is either extraordinarily
bad luck or the manner in which the
drawings have been made that has re-
suited in such unfavorable conditions for
ha No n
how the drawings are conducted, but have
not been able to get anything from the
Amateur Athletic Association officials ex-
cept the reply the drawings have been
made in the usual way.
las soon as | saw the drawings last
evening. went after the secretary OF the
Amateur Athletic Association and pointed
out the injustice of these, and the matter
is to come before the committee. We do
not care what representatives of otnef
nations our men have to run against, but
it is unfair to pit them against each other
in the heats"
Mr. Sullivan closed by saying:
THE United Kingdom had its innings
in the distance events last week: the
Americans will have their turn this week
in the sprintS hurdles and jumps.
The men who are to uphold the SUI
premacy of America in these sports have
been training at Brighton. They came
I'D to London last evening. and although
suffering from the effects of the climate.
still they are determined to gather in the
great majority of prizes. 1t Will be i'm
possible to surpass the United Kingdom
total of wins in all sports. cut the Amer
leans expect very early in the week to
wipe out the lead Of IA points in the score
for field sports which the representatives
of the United Kingdom at the present
time hold over them.
The Marathon Race.
If the Indian. Longboat. is allowed to
run in the Marathon. which It is believed
he will, the committee having already
decided not to allow the protest filed
against him by the American committee.
1t is likely that the prize in this event
again will go to Canada There have
been reports in circulation Of accidents
to the Indian runner. and also that he
is not we'll but those who know the
ways of Longboat's manager do not give
Of money being bet on the result of the
Marathon, the English freely backing A.
Duncan of the Stafford Harriers. who
covered the course at the trials in z
hours 15 minutes; Beale. who ran second
to Duncan. and r. Jack, another smart
long-distance man: while the Canadians
are ready to support their man almost
to any amount.
The Americans who will compete in the
Marathon are Joseph Forshaw, Missouri
"a ~.
A. A., Chicago; John J. Hayes, Irish-
American A. c.; T. p. Morrisey. Mer.
curry A. c.; NJ J. Ryan. Irish-American
A. c.: Lewis Tewanina. Carlisle Indian
School. and A. r. Welton. Y. M. c. A.
Tewanina is thought to have a good
chance of winning, but he is feeling the
effects of the climate. and is also com
planning that his knees are giving him
trouble. The race will bring together the
most cosmopolitan lot of competitors of
81 ,y,olo mi ,ctr
start three men, South Africa four. in
Guiding HefferOn. who has been making
a good showing against the United King
dom in the distance runs In the stadium; ;
Greece. Finland. Russia. Belgium, Aus
tria Bohemia and Hungary one each.
Holland and Italy five each, Gepmany
three. Denmark two, America seven and
the United Kingdom and Canada the full
dozen allowed by the rules.
The Marathon Course.
The course is exactly 70 miles $50 yards.
so that the competitors will have con-
cluded half the distance when they pass
Eastcote.
The start will be from the palace gates
at Windsor. and the race will conclude on
the cinder path in the stadium. part of
lap being included In the distance The
Marathon will be run July "a, as July
%, the serious work being finished.
there will be more ceremonies, as on the
opening day. The prizes are to be dis
tributed that afternoon. and. If the
weather is fine. this feature OF the Olym-
pic meeting will be a pretty one. Queen
Alexandra is to preside over the> affair,
and If the king should attend he will take
no part In the proceedings In any way.
Her majesty who. with other royalties
and their suites. will occupy the royal
boxes will be assisted in the distribution
of the prizes by ten duchesses, one or two
of whom probably will be Americans
The duchesses will hand the prizes to the
winners from tables placed on the turf
Immediately in front of the royal box.
AS each successful athlete receives hts
medal he will walk up to the royal box
and bow to the queen. 1t Is hoped to
conclude this ceremony within an hour
and a half.
Ambassador Reds reception to the
American team has been definitely fixed