The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-05-06
insult Brings
WORLDS TITLE
HOW ALVIN kRAENZLElN BROKE
THE WORLDS HURDLE REC.
oRD-MlcHIGAN COACH
TELLS STORY.

| ALVIN hfdenzleln, coacn OF the Mich
| igan track team and worlds record
holder in the 22O-yard low hurdles,
tells an interesting story of how the
came to win the worlds title in the low
hurdles-a title which he holds and
which, judging from the inability of
present-day hurdlers. to approach his
mark of .23 3-5, he probably will re-
tain for another decade.
Kraenzlein doesn't tell this story for
the purpose of boasting; rather the OPP
posite. Kraenzlein is anything but
boaster. He merely told 1t one day i'm
a moment of inadvertence, by way of
apology for holding the worlds record
for the event.
At the time-it was back in 1895
Kraenzlein was as big. as he is now,
only more lanky. He had entered the
| University of Pennsylvania the previ-
Gus fall, and, together with Mike Muir
hurdling, which, while the vogue at the
present time, was something new and
unheard of then.
kraenzlein's First Big Meet.
The Penn track team had gone TO
New York city to compete in the East
ern legiate-Kraenzlein first
big meet. In the trial heats of the
hurdles Kraenzlein won without par
ticular difficulty, as did Bremen, of
Harvard, who then held the worlds
/ . Al.
trial heats and the scmi-finals had
been run, it was found that Bremen
and another Harvard athlete had sur
vived the elimination process, while
Kraenzlein and another Pennsylvania
athlete were the others who had quail
flied for the finals.
AS it was my first big meet | was
nervous" says Kraenzlein in relating
the incident. II had heard a lot about
Bremen. and l hadn't the slightest no.
ton in the world that | would beat
him. My highest ambition was to fin
lsh second, or even third. conceded
to myself at least--that Bremen would
win the race hands down.
Bremen Refuses to Speak.
"While We were standing around the
starting place waiting for the final heat
1 was admiring Bremen. and finally /
mustered sufficient courage to so over
and extend my hand.
az am Kraenzlein of Pennsylvania,
I said, and I've heard so much of you
that I'd like to know YOU
sIlrapnpr InokoI 81 mo an coonnH thor,
turned away as If he had seen nothing |
flushed. then turned white, and
walked away. | was so angry that |
don't believe I knew quite what ! was
doing. The starter called us to our po-
sitlons, but all the time we were get
iidn't have n single thought except that
I'd beat him or die in the attempt
eve were off together with the crack
Of the gun. and that's all remember.
The next thing I knew Mike Murphy
was standing by my side i'm the dress
ing room congratulating me. He told
me that 1 had beaten Bremen: that
had lowered the worlds record by a
'ull second, and a lot of details which
fear were a trife exaggerated. He
always insisted that, although we were
nearly together when we cleared the
irst hurdle. beat him so badly that
when was finishing he was taking the
asst barrier.
Surprised at Fast Time.
Naturally there was some surprise
when the time. .2S 2-5. was announced.
Vt first even the timers wouldn't be-
ieve IL. but there were three of them
md they all caught me in the same
ime. They said. too that II Bremen
'ould run in "a S-5 my time must
ave been full second faster. Judging
rom the distance by which | led him
o the tape
while Murphy was talking to me In
ny dressing room. there was n knock
L the door. Murphy went 20 the door
nd there stood Bremen. He came ov-