The San Francisco call., 1909-02-22
FAMED FOOTRACEPS
START TODAY IN
THE PARK
Records May 90 GHmnIering in
fhe Two Great Olympic
Club Meets

The thousands Of devotees OF outdoor
athletics of this city will have a chance
this afternoon TO usher in the balmy
spring season under The most suspicious
of circumstances at Golden Gate park,
. for the Olympic club has arranged for
their benefit one of the finest programs
Of amateur pastimes that any club in
the state ever attempted. On the card
is the first legitimate amateur Marathon
which the great organization ever at
tempted. and in conjunction is the field
day. TO be decided at the stadium. This
promises to be a remarkable meet.
Seventy names are down for the long
distance hike. and these men and boys
represent practically every prominent
amateur athletic order in this city and
on the other side OF the bay. besides
many nationalities. Among the more
prominent clubs in Inc lineup are the
Swedish. lrish-American, Siaplamats
Century, Olympic. Weston. Golden Citys
and St. Marys.
The Marathon viii start promptly at
noon from the Baker street entrance to
the panhandle, and all contestants must
report TO the officials there an hour in
advance. The dne weather of the last
few days has dried out the roadway
and it IS expected that the course to the
beach and return wili De smooth and
level and capable OF fast time when the
big bunch starts on its way this after
neon. For this reason the close follow
ers of the game look for the smashing
of 2 record.
MANY NOTED STARTERS
J. 5. Hassard, representing the St
Marys athletic association and twice
winner of the great Dipsea race over
the wild Marin county course, looms up
as one of the most likely contestants.
Hassard mas never gone the whole Mara
thon route, 26 miles and 3S5 yards. but
he is in grand shape and his friends feel
confident that he win make good.
Among the others who are looked
upon as dangerous are George Behrman
of the Siaplamat Indians. winner of the
last Dipsea Journey; Boeddiker. Riordan
and Moir all of whom have shown class
in the various distance events In which
they have been entered. 1t is a question
of going the whole course with them
just as with Hassard.
If the weather holds out, and every
indication points that way, a record
breaking throng is expected to line up
all along the course. There will be
no reserved seats and he or she who
arrives first Will secure the choicest
points of vantage. The course will be
kept NlCaE ana lntTe Is little llkeilHOOQ
of any interference with the runners.
They will continue along the main
roadway to the beach, turn at the great
highway and come back along the
south drive. They must run over this
course three times and finish in the
track al the stadium, where the final
3s5 yards has been measured off. 1t
Is here that the big crowd will gather
and ii is here that the real excitement
viii prevail.
SNIITHSON 4EprFp RECORD
The track events at the stadium will
start a { ! O'Clock and those who care
more about this class Of sport than they
do about the long distance. running
VIII have a chance TO enjoy themselves,
for the program is as classy a one as
any that has been attempted here for
long time.
One OF the most notable of these
contests will be the 100 yard dash, open
TO all No less than 80 probable start
ers have sent n their names and if
rhree-f fourths of this number toes the
scratch II should prove sight worth
going miles 10 witness. Many of these
are from the University of California
Trainer Walter Christie entering near
~ every one of his short distance men
for this scramble.
The 100 yards invitation race gives
promise Of some action. for among the
starts are several Of the best men in
their particular line. These include the
great Forest Snithson, champion hurd-
Ter OF the world; Al Crossfield. Cecil
Caldwell, y. II. Hollis. w. r. Knox and
others wen known to fame.
In the hurdle events at I2O and 22O
yards Smithson and Cheek, the noted
Berkeley ilurdlers. will clash. Smith
son has stated that he will do his ut
most TO lower the worlds record in the
low hurdles and II conditions are at all
favorable he is likely to make good
Included in the program are bicycle
relay race and The two mile footrace.
both Of which contain some good en-
tries.