Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-17
0LYMPIAN COMPETITION KEEN
Americans Will Not Win Easily in
Coming Stockholm Games.
MANY NATIONS STIMULATED
Not Likely that ANY Country Just
Beginnings 60 Take Interest In
Contest. VIII Carry OFF
Any Honors.

NEW YORK, March ls.-Acoording to
reports received by the American oiym-
Die committee from various countries
where track and field sports flourish
the American team will ind competi-
tion keener at the Stockholm games next
summer than in any previous interna-
tional meet. The revival Of the Olympic
meets has done much to stimulate In
terest among nationallties which hereto
fore have not shown much disposition to
adopt this form OF athletic competition.
II lie most unlikely that any country
wherein the sport is Just attracting pub
lie attention and interest wilui carry off
chief honors at the meet scheduled for
next July.
There is. however, a strong possibility
that here and there q Comparatively I'M
known entrant will forge to the front
and score first place In one event thus
upsetting the predictions Of the athletic
sharps. At the present writing II would
appear as though the real battle for
premier honors lay between the United
States and English teams. The latter
country would be far stronger were II
possible TO use the athletic strength OF
her colonies for the Olympic games. but
Canada, Australia and South Africa
competing as separate teams win
compel the English committee to rely
solely upon the athletics Of the British
isles for her team. s ah
The result cannot be forecasted. there
fore with any real certainty for both
the United States and England may lose
points where least expected. Because OF
is expected to represent this country the
United States will undoubtedly be favor
lite for first place, but a few upsets
would reduce the margin OF victory TO a
point where the loss OF premier honors
would not be impossible. The fact that
Canada, Australia and South Africa are
preparing to send strong teams to the
Olympic games portends some hard
struggles on both cinder path and turf
for the American athletes.
south Africa Busy.
The South African colony 10 making
strenuous efforts to send a small. but
high-class team to Stockholm. A public
subscription to defray the expenses OF
the combination is being collected. and
from the material available II Is ex-
pected that this entry will bear keen
watching by the american competitors.
The sum of slo.ooo IS desired to finance
the trip OF the team. which viii probably
consist OF eight men. every one Of
whom is a performer well above the
average. 50 far as the colonies are con-
cerned. South Africa is noted for It's
speedy runners, and rarely has 1t been
without an outstanding sprinter. Since
1850 no fewer than eight runners have
been credited with doing 10 seconds fiat
There is young Splinter named Reuben
Povey Of whom much is expected while
the real hope is Cliff suiin. the present
South African champion, a 1s-year-old
youth, and much like the professional,
A. B. Postle. in shape and style. This
runner is lightning fast on the start Of
the holes. ard. being Durham boy. has
had the advantage Of training with
Major Taylor. the Tasmanian profess
sional. and later with his townsmsn.
Reginald Walker
Patching Holds Record.
rAn~-u IN Dmtnhfrr x.h. a. /. ~-..L =.