Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-03
FAST SPRINTERS ARE SCARCE
Americans at Stockholm May Play
Second Fiddle in Running.
CRAIG IS OUT OF THE GAME
Had Olympic Events Been sched-
u1ed a Year Earlier Michigan
Man Could Enter and Prob
ably Capture Prize.


NEW YORK, Dec. 2,--Those who are
keen on doping the form or sprrnters have
II figured out now that the American
team fer Stockholm will be weak In
sprinters-that is, except something good
shows out Of the spring training OF the
colleges. To figure down to fine. point
they say that there is not a sprinter now
in the United States capable of doing
even time on a correct track and with
good checkers. Here and there in the
east several have been credited with 10
seconds and better, but half the time 1t
Is with. novice timers, and other new
corners in the athletic world. Even TO
take the winners Of the best of the dis
trict championships or the national meet
scarcely any OF the victors would be fit
to do better than 1O1b seconds IL tried out
well in the old world, A notable case of
the, difference was Ramsdell, the Uni
,versity Of Pennsylvania sprinter. who Toy
a while here was supposed to be able ID
come inside 'evens'' every day he donhed
his running toggery. yet when he went to
England he nearly burst himself trying
to do lo1S seconds for the century He
many to give, as he thought. display
of speed, for Rau, the Teutonic title
holder made Tex look like a selling
platter.
n Had the games been a year earlier the
american team would have the services
of Craig of Michigan, who was able on
any favorable day to beat even for the
hundred or furlong, but there will be no
Craig next spring.-snd except some new
man shows between now and then Amer
lea may have to play second fiddle to
Germany or some other nation. OF course
there are those ia athletics who persuade
themselves that you can find an olympic
winner, In the metropolitan district at this
moment. and they point to the perform
ances on some local tracks to bear out
the. theory.
They Were HIisinfOrmed.
In 1908, when the games were held In
London, the Stars and Stripes was pretty
we'll off for spdnting material, yet a pair
of seconds and a third was the best the
boys could do. II was generally regarded
here by the misInformed and the thought
less that America would walk away with
all the honoTs in the 100 and 200 meters.
There was Cartmell. the intercollegiate
FCndttAflOtAt anu jim IASCIotB VINO was sup
posed at one time to have covered the
century in S7s seconds and who at the
tryouts In Philadelphia electrified the
critics by making 1876 seconds for the 100
meters in one OF his heats, Others in the
Yankee category we're May, Hamilton,
Cioughen. Stevens and Huff. but only
Rector and Cartmell worked into the final
round OF the 100 meters. Though Rector
~. g.
him down ana the South African won by
more than a yard In the record time OF
lOx seconds. II was no disgrace to be
beaten by a man who set up worlds
mark but It would be much more salts
factory had Rector been In front. Cart
NELL was last. Kerr the Canadian. split
ting himself and his team mate. Cloughen
and Cartmell got second and third re
spectlyely In the 900 meter and they were
closer to victory than in the shorter dis
lance. only about nine inches separating
ClOughen from Kerr. the winner. Cart
nell was third. about foot behind
cloughen. Such as they were then there
Is not anything like them now, and Il viii
be surprising II real crack should make
his, appearances before next June
England Will Be There.
That England intends to put her bes
leg forward at the next Olympic games
there is no doubt. Preparations for the
team have already begun. and In order 70
be wen acquainted with the battle-ground
the Rev. s, ]. De courcy Laffin sec
rotary OF the British olympic council
paid a visit to Stockholm recently. After
his return he stated that in all probability
England would send a team OF between
go and 800 men. having a full entry in
all the events, and no thought by having
plenty OF material that the Bntishers
would come away with the honors
Among other things. he said that in all
forty nations would be represented this
time and the stadium. he thought. WOULD
be- very art site when complete. Il viii
be smaller than the one at London. fact
which viii insure a better view of the
field events. Nat Perry OF the London
Athletic club Vial have the job OF build
ing the track and IT win be as fast as
has ever been seen at any OF the Olympic
gatherings. The stadium will not be
finished TN about the first OF June, but
there = . ground near Il which can be
used for training purposes By the visit