The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-05
RECORD WAS BROKEN.

Ann Arbor, Mich. April 5.---Al-
win Kraenzlein, coach of the Michigan
track team, and worlds record holder
in the 220-yard low hurdles, tells an In
teresting story of how he came to win
the worlds title in the low hurdles
a title which, judging from the inabil-
ity of present day hurdles to approach
his mark of :2S 3-5. he probably will
retain for another decade.
Kraenzlein doesn't tell this story for
the purpose of boasting; rather the OPP
posite. Kraenzlein is anything but a
boaster. He merely told IL one day in
a moment of inadvertence, almost by
way of apology for holding the record
for the event.
At the time-it was back in 1893
Kraenzlein was as big as he now is,
only more lanlxy. He had entered the
University of Pennsylvania the pre-
vious fall, and together with Mike
Murphy, had evolved a new system OF
hurdling, which, while the vogue at
the present time. was something new
and unheard OF then.
His First Big Meet.
The Penn track team had gone to
New York city to compete in tho east
tern Observation-Disclosures first
big meet. In the trial heats of the.
hurdles Kraenzlein won without par
ticular difficulty, as did Bremen Of Har-
ward, who then held the worlds record
of "a 3-5 seconds. When the trial heats
and the semifinals had been run, it was
found that Bremen and another Har-
ward athlete were the others who had
qualified for the finals.
"As it was my. first big meet / was
nervous" says Kraenzlein, in relating
the incident. II had heard lot about
Bremen, and hadn't the slightest no.
ton in the world that / would beat
him. My highest ambition was to fin
ish second or even third. conceded
to myself at least--that Bremen would
win the race hands down.
While we were standing around the
starting place waiting for the final
heat was admiring Bremen, and finally
I mustered SUFFICIENT courage to go over
and extend my hand.
7 am Kraenzlein of PENNSYLVANIA.
said. and I've heard so much of you
that I'd like to know you.'
Bremen Turns His Back.
Bremen looked at me a second. then
turned away as If he had seen nothing.
flushed, then turned white, and walked
away. / was so angry that I don't be-
lieve ] knew quite what I was doing.
The starter called us to our positions.
but all the time we were getting on
our marks and getting set didn't have
a single thought except that I'd beat
him or die in the attempt.
I'VE were off together with the crack
of the gun. and that's all remember.
The next thing knew Mike Murphy
was standing by my side in the dress
ing room congratulating me. He told
me that / had beaten Bremen: that
had lowered the worlds record by n
full second, and lot of details which 7
fear were trifle exaggerated. He all
ways insisted that, although we were
nearly together when we cleared the
first hurdle, / beat him so badly thai
when was finishing he was taking the
last barrier.
Whole Second Clipped on.
Naturally there was some surprise
when the time, :2S S-5, was announced.
At first. even the timers wouldn't be-
lieve it. but there were three or them
and they all caught me in the Same
time. They said, too, that IL Bremen
could run in IA 80, my time must
have been a full second faster, Judging
from the distance by which I led him Ia
the tape.
While Murphy was talking to me
in my dressing room there was knock
at the door, Murphy went to the door
and there stood Bremen. He came over
and apologized for his insult, and. aof
course, had no reason to be angry anv
longer. It had hurt at the time hnt e
was just what I needed to put M ~ -
edge TO run the race Of my life.
do / think / would have ave. -.
the worlds championship without thss
incident? Maybe so, but DOME Il !
It Is now possible to 20 around ~
world in less than half tha e.. y