Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20
.bR|TONS IMPROVING
Have Two Runners of Ability
for the Big Olympic Games.
HAD NOTHING IN 1908
Mcmillan and Baker, Both Cam
bridge Men, Made Good Time in
Recent College Contests.
By Edward r. Bushnell.

There were two features to the recent
dual games between Oxford and Cam
| bridge universities which are calculated
to cause some worriment among Ameri-
cans. whether they are interested In the
proposed international meet between Har-
ward and Yale. representing the United
States, and Oxford and Cambridge, or the
1912 Olympiad These were the victory
of Mcmillan of Cambridge, in the 100
yard dash which he won in ten seconds
flat, and the double victory of Baker OF
Cambridge in the mile and half-mile runs.
McMillan's performance means that
England has at last found a capable
Splinter, a possession she lacked abso-
lutely in the 1908 Olympic games. The
astonishing feature of McMillan's work
was that he should show enough speed
to run the century In even time in March.
| OF course the weather in England at this
/ time of the year is always moderate, but
the day Of the games the weather was
extremely raw, and, in addition, a stin
| wind blew down the track. The English
accounts of the games do not say whether
, or not the Sprinters had the wind at their
| backs, but In all probability they had,
for under such conditions no ordinary
man could have run the century in even
time.
But even If 1t be granted that Mcmillan
QlQ nave the ASSISTANCE Oh the WlnQ, Ills
performance was really remarkable. In
his race he beat Lange. the American
Rhodes scholar from Oklahoma, who a
few weeks previously had equaled ten
seconds for this event. Mcmillan beat
out Lange in the last five yards. but only
by foot. On this side of the water
practically nothing is known of LANCE.
| as he never figured in any of our big
meets. English critics are now congratu-
lating themselves that Mcmillan will
make the sprinters OF the other nations
look we'll to their laurels at future in
| ternational meets.
| The performance Of Baker was notable.
| in that it was the first time on record
that any man had ever won both the half
and mile runs at these games. 1t is true
that his times, 40 2-5 for the mile and
1.5S 1-5 for the half mile. were not ex-
ceptional, but when it is considered that
with an injured leg. it is evident that he
will bear watching. The mile he won
without extending himself.
| In the United States not so much is
thought of a man winning both the mile
and half-mile runs at our intercollegiate
meets, though only two men have ever
done it. In 1898 John Cregan of Prince
ton won the mile in ABB 3-5 and the half
mile In 1.5S 2-5 In 1907 Guy Haskins
of Pennsylvania won the mile In 40 80.
a new intercollegiate record. and the
| half mile in LOT 40. Another man who
magnanimously refused to win this dou-
Die nonor was w. =. fduil oI FeIinsyi-
vania, who in 1909 set new mile record
| Of All As, and then allowed a team
mate to win the half mile, PAUL himself
| taking second in it.
| If the Harvard-Yale vs.. Oxford-Cam-
bridge meet is finally arranged, 1t will be
a more even competition than most per-
| sons imagined. For instance, Mcmillan
has a good chance to win the 100 yards.
unless Foster Of Harvard regains his 1909
form: Baker of Cambridge is undoubtedly
better than any of the Americans for the
half and mile races: while Ziegler OF Ok