The Washington times., 1912-05-12
Participants Tines Nezvs Marathon Compliment Officials
REFLECT CREDIT .
UPON MARATHON
Washington and Baltimore Athletes Pleased With Long
Distance Run Held by Times and News--Eclpses
Il All Previous Competitions


ton and Baltimore are today refectins
credit upon the most successful amateur
event ever held in this section of the
country. From a standpoint of corr.
petition and management The Wash
tngton Times-Baltimore News mara
thon, held from Laurel to Baltimore, the
fourth annual race, eclipsed all previous
races and set a standard for all future
events.
A new record was established shortly
after noon yesterday when Frank A.
Ruth, wearing the colors of the Balu-
more Cross Country Club. flashed across
the finish line near the Baltimore News
office in 2 hours minutes 6 seconds.
Ruth clipped minutes seconds from
the record created by James Mahony in
1910, and the slim youth smiled joyously
as he jumped at the finish line with
arms outstretched, in the realization
that a new mark had been created.
Ruth, the winner; Ruth, the record
breaker, and Ruth, the intercity cham
pion, yesterday enrolled his name with
that Of Enzor, Mahony, and Elphin-
stone in the greatest of The Times-News
Marathon races.
Winner Weighs Little.
This slight youth, weighing little
more than 100 pounds, who twice before
has given evidence of his prowess, yes
terday carried through to fulfillment his
hope that he would win and create a
record. Never swerving, always mind
ful of the pace he set at the start,
Ruth held tenaciously to the gait which
carried him. on and far in the lead at
the city limits in Baltimore and brought
him to the finish line a victor.
Yesterday Ruth was peerless; he was
unbeatable. By sheer gameness, in the
face of greatest odds, for Elphinstone
and Holden were full mile ahead at
one time, Ruth maintained a distance
eating stride which brought him to the
leader, Bolac, at the city limits, and
took the heart out of the veteran Wash
ington Cross County runner.
Content to trail BolaC for miles, Ruth
doggedly continued when the veterans,
Bolac, Elphinstone, and Campbell,
failed because of the killing pace. Not
once did the Baltimore man falter, and
only a mile before the finish did the
first sign of fatigue appear, when Ruth
momentarily dropped his arms because
of a cremp.
The winner timed his race like vet
eran, stuck to his knitting in the face
of odds and had the satisfaction of out
generating and outgaming those who
had previously beaten him in the other
Times-News races. Ruth finished six
teenth last year, behind Bolac, Elphin-
stone, Campbell, Geller. and Holland,
who finished in the first ten yesterday
Develops Into Fight.
From the start at Laurel the race
rapidly developed into a fight between
Holden, the Canadian, and the veteran
winner of last years race, Elphinstone.
After the first mile. Elphinstone. set
ting a pace that has marked each OF
his other performances, and was a repe-
tition of the 1910 race, in which he col
lapsed while in the lead, quickly jumped
to the fore. Holden was hot after him,
and the leaders clicked off the miles
with the field strung out fully two miles
behind.
All along the way cheers of encour.
agement, frantic waving OF hats and
flags gave the runners added spirit
The form of the leaders was in distinct
contrast. Elphinstones steady machine
like stride measuring off the distance
was markedly different from the short
choppy gait of the Canadian.
The two leaders were lost on the
road far. ahead Of the others, who were
unable to maintain the terrific pace, a.
the four-mile mark. Ruth, was trailing
along at an even rate Of sEeed' nrVeL
falterinz up or down hill, while strung
behind the others took their time At tho
tnclines or rested awhii gvltms
water and lemons from attendants. The
pack ut five miles. was fully two miIe;
behind the leaders. Several of the Older
runners who came well up at the fintsf
bded their time, taking the chance tllal
the fast, pace would eventually XII On
NE leaders anil give them chahc'
to como IN from behind.
Bolac, Campbell, and Richmond were
TIE washington runners with CurlGy
way station. Curlev and Holland moyet
ON ahead of the pack and enGeaNered tC
catch up with the leaders. Callan. Baef
GeilSr. and Jory were within two ,rn. tml!e1
little more than half over.
Many Spectators.
When the leaders drew near Balti
more the streets were packed witt
waiting people. all along the route
llandclappIngs AMI cheers welcomed
Ruth as he padded along on the dusty
road. The neat was sitting and th'
dust from vehicles and bicycles causet
the runners intense suffering. Bolai
was in the lead at the outskirts of Tho
city. hut Ruth challenged and the
sturdy Washington Cross Country mar
with the race we'll in hand. Ruth hac
three miles to go and took to the SIDE
walk as muCn as possible beginning
| what was practically a two-mile sprln
TO the finish line.
Crowds lined the strects cheering anS
inouirlnS the runner names, hard-hsted
grimy laborars munChing their lunChe!
| icined in the cheering, factory hand
and StorCkeepers left their places anC
| crowded out on TO the street, giving tn
runners an ovation.
When II became known that a Bal
tim,re man was in the lead enthusI
asm broke loose. pedestrians rccogntz
! ing Ruth. Justify shouted and Inquire"
| for Elphinstone and Holden were uItrr''
| on ali sides. Bolac was recognize
! later and cheer"d on by thu thousand
who eagerly pressed forward 20 ge
| q glimpse of the runner.
Small toys on bicycles and afoo
pressed on after the leader. shoutinI
and yelling in their endeaNor to get t
| the fnish with the leader
Get Warm Welcome.
yUIndows u,ere filled with those anXtou