Evening star., 1909-01-31
TECHNICAL HIGHS
TRACK ATHLETES
Splendid Team Developed as
a Result of Enthusiasm
and Hard Work,

Having experienced considerable sue
cess on the gridiron and base ball dia-
mond during the past few years and at
the same time anneXlng many victories
for their school, the boys of Technical
High School are endeavoring to strength
en- their standard in track athletics. in
which they have never gained first hon.
ors, but IN which sport they have been
severely handicapped by possessing no
suitable indoor training quarters.
Track athletics at Technical. although
several track men of considerable repu-
tation have been turned out from this
institution, have never been what they
should be, and have been far below that
OF the neighboring high schools. Per-
maps the three foremost stars in this
branch of athletics ever developed at
Technical. and who distinguished them
selves by holding track records. are
Byrne, Thrall and Duganne. Byrne was
distance man, but possessed all the
qualities Of a full-fedged cinder-path
artist. While Dusanne was the holder of
several records in weight events. till
these were smashed some years later by
" Macdonald OF Central High School
1t is the general opinion that Thrall was
the greatest track athlete that ever rep
events. and through his graduation the
school lost the last Of the individual stars
| at the running game.
II can easily be seen, therefore, that
interest IN track athletics in former years
at Technical has no, been the keenest
and that the team was usually colnposed
OF few Individual stars. The small
number Of boys attending school and the
lack or training quarters squelched the
sport at this institution. In order to
pick creditable track team it is ahso-
luteIy necessary to have a large bunch
OF candidates with some little knowleds,e
OF the running game, and mainly to leave
q 1ounoation TO build up winning team
1or the following years, when graduation
and other means frequently rob the
team Of the foremost stars
II was In this state of affairs the
FACULTY advisers found the condition Of
track athletics at Technical at the be-
ginning OF the season, and the school
could boast Of few men with suf1cIent
knowledge Of track participation AS
the School is Increasing in attendance
yearly and several additions have been
annexed to the main building. the ten-
dency Of desiring TO establish a win
nlng track team suddenly swept tha
whole school. So Immediately follow
ing the foot bah season. spirited by a
Slsan sweep OF victories in other
branches OF athletics and realizing the
peneht or running to the foot bali and
base pail teams. meeting. fully at
tended by the boys interested in track
work, took place. After interest had
Deen aroused to a high key by urgent
speeches by some of the faculty aI-
visers. Dick" Spransy was unanimous
~ elected captain and Howard was
selected to look after the managerial
duties of the team. The candidate,
commenced training Immediately in one
OF the corridors of the building but as
the floor is marble it did not afford the
pest possible training quarters and
severely handicapped much progress in
track advancement. The green mate
was also gaining little knowledge Of
the fine points Of the game, as the sery-
Ice or capable coach could not be Sc
cured. In spite of this fact, however.
the boys did not lose heart and kept
training faithfully, but with very littIo
prospects. until mostly through tile
energy of DR.. Bunch. Manager Howard
and Capt. Spransy, Walker a local star
OIL the clnder path was engaged ;oy
the school to whip the squad into con.
dition.
Although Walker is one of the speediest
dash men in the District and knows the
running game from A to u, he had his
hands pretty full with bunch of ex-
ceedfngly green material, with a closed
marble floor corridor in which to give
them daily workouts. The squad paid
the closest attention to his direction
however. and when he had acquired suf-
IiSicEt hiO"lSuSc VI lIle cOnQlQateS' dDiI-
ity the men were matched as evenly as
possible and weekly meets in running
exclusively were held among the BOYS
This afforded the coach an opportunity
to get line on the mems ability and at
the same. time allowed those participat-
ing the privilege OF obtaining practically
the same experience they would receive
In regular meet. 1t also accomplishes
much toward compelling the novice run
ner to overcome the nervousness that is
USUALLY In the
tions. After about three weeks of work
the team was exceedingly fortunate in
securing the old District building as it's
indoor training quarters, and lost no time
in making the best Of this opportunity
Meets are held regularly every Satur-
day, and Coach Walker reports gratify-
ing results. When 1t is taken into con
sheraton, however, that the team is
composed of a bunch of candidates nos
sessing all the qualities to develop into
full-neuged track artists. that 1t is capa-
bly, coached In about as good an indoor
place that could be secured in the Dis
trict by a man who knows his business.
Continued on Second Page.)