The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-20
POLK. THE WINNER
Carries Off HonOrs in First
School Field Meet.
Contest Close Between That
School and Harrison.
EXCITEMENT is HIGH
School Yells a Feature of the
Games.
Everyone Concerned Greatly
Pleased With Event.

The first annual field day event under
the auspices of the Topeka Public
School Athletic association held on
Washburn field Friday afternoon was
an unqualified success and probably
the largest event of the kind ever held
| IN Kansas. There were 700 participators
boys and glrls-from the grade schools
and on the bleachers and side lines
more than 1000 youngsters, wild with
excitement were urging the represen-
tatives of their respective schools on
to victory by the waving of banners
ana continuous round of yelling"
such as is characteristic of the mem
bers of the younger generation.
1t was thought at first that the Har-
rison school athletes would come off
the field at the close of the contest with
the honorS, but the Polk school contest
ants finally nosed out victory. For
ty-four and half points were chalked
up In favor of the winners, while Har-
rlson aspirants were credited with 43
points. The Lowman Hill school came
third in the race for athletic suprema-
cy with 35 points.
1t was q wildly excited bunch of
youthful athletics that took part in the
meet, and as at times two or three
events were going on at the same time
much credit is due W. L. Driver. di-
rector of Washburn athletics, and his
staff of student assistants, who assign
ed the boys and girls for the respective
stunts"
Teachers Were Excited.
The excitement waxed high at times
and the youngsters were not the only
ones who felt the thrill of the occa-
sion. Pupils were hugging pupils and
teachers were embracing the girls in
their direct charge who were success
full in winning contests.
AS is shown below in the list of prize
winners some excellent record were
made by the school children and the
prediction was made on the field that
Washburn will excel in athletics in
years to come on account of these an
nual school athletic events 1t was sug-
gested that Director Driver had a Wis
ion of the future when he agreed to
undertake to handle the big meet.
One interesting fact in the winning
was that large percentage of the boys
who were successful were those who
have had previous training under the
direction of the Y. NJ. c. A. Another
interesting feature was that of the four
schools which were at the top of the
list in the contest, three of them have
a woman as a head of the institution.
This is one of the best schemes
which has been started in Topeka in
many a day." enthusiastically COM
mented Observation-Disclosures of City
Schools c. G. Starr, who was present.
Superintendent L. D. Whittemore was
likewise delighted over the result of
the meet A peculiar thing about the
program was that the events were
pulled off, almost according to
schedule time. This is quite remark
able as there are usually many tire
some delays. A threatening sprinkle
and dark clouds nearly put the meet
out of business towards the close, but
sufficient forces were mustered to fin |
ish in proper style.
Much credit is due the. teachers
for the preliminary work they did in
training the pupils
The Polk school athletes were pre-
sented with a loving cup and there
was a large banner for the Harrison
contestants, while there were smaller |
banners for other schools.
There Were SquabbIes.
In the course of the meet and after
wards there were a number of "squab- |
bles' among the children. While the |
m eet was in progress the Sunni er /
school banner was ,snatched by some
one, and in giving chase a number of |
the Sumner boys lost out of events, |
gaining their banner. On the way
home one girl from Grant school be-
came angry with a crowd who hailed |
from Branner school and threw a new |
hat of one of the girls under the car |
wheels and ruined it. She also smashed |
several other hats.
From a spectators point of view,
the girls basketball relays were the |
prettiest and most interesting to
watch. There were teams of ten girls /
from each school and six teams par
Licipated at the same time. In a long
line the girls stood and the first girl
would start the ball, throwing it over
her head to the girl back of her and
IN the same manner it went down the