Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-06
VICTOR IN
SPECIAL MILE RUN
Defeats Kiviat, Gissing and
Riley in Ordinary Time at
Monument Club Games.

NEW YORK, June 6-Melvin W. Shop
pard once again showed his superiority
over the best mfddle-distance men in
this section when he won the special mile
race at the combined Monument Club and
Bricklayers' Union games at Celtic Park,
Long Island City, yesterday. Pitted
against three of the best men at the
distance in this section. he easily out
stripped them in the final sprint for the
tape and won the event by margin OF
fifteen yards. Opposed to Sheppard were
Riviat. Gissing and Riley, all three noted
for their prowess on the cinder path,
but when it came to holding the speedy
Olympic champion they were utterly out
classed.
The conditions under which the race
was run We're about bad could be
imagined. There was heavy rain drift
ing across the track, propelled by a stiff
breeze that chilled the men before they
had a chance to leave the mark. Then,
too, the track was particularly heavy,
and all in all there was every obstacle
thrown cut by Indictment weather that
would hinder fast time. At that, how
ever. Sheppard covered the mile in 40.
which. it was stated was as good as
40 at least had the track been in good
shape and the weather conditions fair.
A1V1dC In DISTRESS.
Second to Sheppard, and fifteen yards
behind him. came Abel kiviat, trudging
along in evident distress, and back of
him another ten yards plodded Riley.
Gissing was utterly unable to hold the
pace set by Sheppard on the last lap,
and dropped out of the event when he
was half a lap from the tape, and then
running fully twenty-five yards behind
Riley. who was third at the time.
When John j. McHugh fired the gun
that sent the men on their way Kiviat
jumped out in front. followed by Riley,
Sheppard and Gissing in the order named
The first circuit of the track found the
positions of the men unchanged, all SEEM
ing wary of each other, and they stayed
grouped we'll together. The rate of speed
for the first quarter gave an indication
of fast time for the mile despite the poor
conditions. kiViat was the leader at the
first quarter and he was clocked at
90 10 seconds for the distance. This was
by far too fast for the men to maintain,
and the pace during the next lap dropped
considerably. When half mile had been
run the men were in the same order as
at the start, Kiviat still leading and Shep-
pard being fully satisfied with third place.
Gissing after the half had been COM
pleted began to show signs of weakening,
even though he was able to keep up with
the leaders.
just before the completion of the third
lap Sheppard struck out with a longer
stride, and in an instant he had assumed
the commanding position. The final lap
was a continual sprint. Sheppard grad
ually drawing away from his rivals. A
half lap from home Gissing quit, and.
with Sheppard we'll out In front, the real
race was between Kiviat and Riley FOR
second position. The two raced neck and
neck on the back stretch, and for one
short bit Riley had the best of kiviat.
Then the latter shot ahead. racing after
Shep. who was leading by ten yards. The
men came down the stretch at terrific
clip. but kiviat could not: make up on
Sheppard, and in fact lost ground