New-York tribune., 1909-05-10
WEFER'S RECORD FALLS
ECKM4N SHOWS SPEED.
HHlman Beats Sheppard in Hot
Match Race at 600 Yards.

With fully ten tho Isand spectators Wildly cheer
ing the victors IN the various events. the Monu-
rlent Athletic Club held the most successful meet
in its history Celtic Park, Long Island CRY yes
terday afternoon. One long standing record was
smashed and all OF the events so fercely
fought that interest in them never lacked Be
sides the running attractions, an exciting game OF
Gaelic football kept the spectators the qui Five
all the time
Perhaps the most exciting Of the afternoon
was the special 120-ysrd dash. which vas won by
Gus Eckman Of the Acorn Athletic Association A
star field faced the starter for this event. There
was slight wind blowing IN favor OF the runners
but not strong enough 10 endanger any record that
might be established. James J. Jeffries the former
champion heavyweight pugiIist Of the world. stood
with his pistol held eIoft.
Are you rea iy2' sang out dr- Jeffries ''On
your marks ."
A moments pause, then the crack of the pistol,
and of dashed the sprinters Bobby Cloughen and
Lawson Robertson, of the New York Athletic Club
out terrific pace from the crack Of the pistol
Billy Keatng stuck TO them with desperation While
for the first ffty yards Ecknan hung his heels
The spectators. set wild By the terrific pace, rose
man, and watched the with bated breath
Inch BY inch the plucky New York Athletic Club
man forged TO the front and his supporters cheered
him madly as they saw a victory in sight
Eckman, lying in The rear. bided his time When
Robertson had gained as much foot over the
field the Acorn saw that it was the time for
him to squirt. Like q fash he shot forward The
naked eye COuu scarcely IOlUN MS AEii6
But magnifcently as he ran he could not leave
the field behind him On even terms Lawson Rob
ertson sprfnted nobly 20 hold his lead and Cloughen
made a desperate effort TO pick UP the few inches
that separated hin; from the men in front
The Acorn man, however, could not be denied,
and inch by inch opened up a lead Robertson
He crossed the line and broke the tape scant
stride ahead Of his nearest competitor IN the record
breaking time OF Il 90 So The record for this dis
tance heretofore was held by Wefers, the George
JafEa <f1a
tarce Travers Island twelve years ago in II 90 As
II Is hard 70 describe the wild cheering that fol-
lowed the announcement that Eckman had broken
the record. It was some minutes before the ap-
plause subsded
q Harry Hilman and Melvin Sheppard were the
two entries in special 6OO-yard race. When these
two crack runners toed the mark there
breathless pause. for the crowd realized that
two runners in this country in all probability
capable Of going that distance in as fast time
could these two Olympic stars. Sheppard. Il IS
true, was handicapped by the fact that he had had
to put IN thirteen hours OF solid work in the Phla-
delphia Custom House before taking train for
New York ana for the race. Nevertheless, he
looked fit to go any distance, and his straining
muscles he waited for the starters pistol in
dicated that Hillman would have the race Of his
life to win.
The latter jumped into the lead at the start. But
Sheppard with dogged determination. came closely
to his heels. Yard after yard the two flying
ners ate up the distance, with change in their
relative position. From enthusiastic cheering the
spectators subsided into silence close was the
race. When they rurne2 into the stretch Sheppard
made desperate effort TO overtake Hman.
Hilman, however, spurted in turn, and with the
formers front foot tapping the latter's leg
the two men sped down the stretch.
At this point Sheppards adherents yelled to him
to make final effort He did. But the flying
Hillman was not to be denied and crossed the line
a scant two feet to the good. The time
11745
Not so spectacular or thrilling. perhaps, the
special ffteen-mila race. which drew a large
field OF starters of unusual ability. Jimmy Lee
looked upon with favor by the crowd TO win
this event. and subsequent events proved that
their confidence not misplaced. Charles Null
Ter. of the Mohawk Athletic Club, and James
Crowley, of the Irsh-American Athletic Club. were
also favortes. Both of these cut out ter
rife pace at the start. and that they able to
hold II gave proof Of their condition.
Lee, however took the lead by fast sprint be-
fore the race was a third over, and. although
peatedy challenged in the next four five miles.
he was able to hold it. AS the race progressed
Lees stamina told, and gradually he drew ahead
until he crossed the line about two-thirds OF lap
in the lead Muller finished second and Crowley
was third. Lees time was hour 26 minutes and
81 seconds.
There were number of other novice and handi-
cap events. Most Of them were hotly contested
and furnished good sport
The summaries follow:
One-hundred- and-twenty-yard specal-won by G. Eek
Athletic Club Robert Coughen irish Aner1-
Athletic Club second; ". J. Keatng Irish-American
Athletic Club third Time. Oils.
six-hundred-yard run (speGiaDmWon BY Harry Hell Hi
American Athletic Club. second. Time ITS.
Three -luarter-nile run-Won by r. Siloernagle MO
hawk Athletic Club 4. Caring unattached second; E
Kappenhoefer. Loughlin Iyceum, third Time 327+s.
F'our-hundred- -forty-yard (Closed)Won BY N
J MudenR J. Hanrachan. second; J. E. Roach. third
Time O:5T%s.
Six -hundret-yart run (novfce>won by 6. \. Morley.
unattached: H !. Aldeg. unattached second Z. NJ.
Athletic Club. third Time. :23Ss
hundred dash (uovice}-won by
Black G. Sweeney, Trinity Athletic Club
second: Clur, Acorn Athletic Club. third Time
0.l2ak
Ffftee special-won James Lee. Mercury Ath
lec Club: Charles Muller Mohawk Athletic Club second
James Crowley, Irish-American Athletic Club third
Time. 1-265s-