Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-24
BY JOHN J. HAYES.

CWinner Of 1908 olympic MRrathop)
NEW YORK, Dec. BIN the summer
OF 1905 at Athens, the American athletes
won the greatest number OF events they
have triumphed In at an Olympic gath
ering.
In the five-mile event Geotge Bonhag
was forced TO lower his colors to Lieu
tenant Hawtrey, the English champion,
In 20 minutes 26h seconds. In those DAYS
this time was considered very fast, be-
cause the art OF specializing had mot be-
gun TO play so prominent q part In track
athletics as II does today. Hawtrey won
because he used style common among
English distance runners II consisted OF
an extreme speed IN the early part of
the race, with the result that after a
few miles the British lieutenant was run
ming In the lead ali alone
Bonhag. like the majority of American
runners, affected the American method,
which differed In the respect that they
used no early speed and depended on an
average pace to win. In running par
lance, the new method was termed run
ming from the gum" and It typlfies the
highest form OF specialization in distance
running.
on his return home Bonhag. himself q
great student OF the game. realizing this
style was capable OF better results and
faster time, trained to master the English
method with a view 10 improving the
time in this event That he succeeded
Is proved by the fact that today he Is
stili a champion and has continued 70
slip seconds from the five-mile figures
up to the present day. Today his five
mile time is the American record, 25 min
utes 9h seconds. In addition. he has
made the best time in the ten-mile cham
pionship run. held at Celtic park IN 1903
OF 90 minutes sitt seconds.
The United States olympic teams have
proved victorious on many foreign
strands, Their success. due in great
measure to specializing OF which the Bon
nag example Is a criterion, has spread our
fame as tho premier OF all athletic
nations. on the contrary. England.
which has always excelled In the dis
lance events seems to have neglected 70
specialize within the last few years. with
the result that she has fallen into an
athletic lethargy.
The essential element I'm the making of
champions on field and track is termed
specialization. This term means the in
sitting into the mind OF the athletic aspi-
rant the fact that to succeed he must
learn TO cover certain distance with the
least waste OF energy or effort.
Three methods have come in vogue of
late years which have tendency TO
produce good athletes and champions
through specialization or improved
methods. First. the professional coach,
who has become the rule, where, years
ago. he was the exception has proved his
year. who not only break all existing
times. but prove themselves 90 be better
and more capable of coping with our
athletic rivals than their predecessors.
Secondly, by teaching novioes proper
style IN track athletics. the faults which
crop up In a prospective champion. and
which sometimes prevent a classy per-
former from ascending TO the champion
ship are corrected. Coaches like Mike
Murphy. Lawson Robertson and Bernie
Wefers change the style OF practically
every man who comes under their tutel-
age. The reason for this - that faults
In form are very hard 10 correct. 20 the
trainer has TO start 20 teach an athlete
In an entirely new way instead OF the
tedious manner OF correcting all his
faults. This teaching OF style Is very
essential and Is productive OF wonderful
results a novice has an apt tendency
20 slip into a number Of faults which re-
tard his development 10 such an extent
that he never accomplishes anything In
athletics.
To cite an example; Jimmy sullivan
OF Az" fame, was running for about
three years for the ST. Bartholomew club
without the advice OF coach. During
this time he was a long-mark man and
was never capable Of better than 4 min