Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-05

near future. 1t would seem that the ex-
perience of the conference in the looo Of
Michigan could be reviewed with pront
at this time.
Jones VS.. Sheppard.
There has always been more or less
rivalry between the club and college ath-
letes. Until the 1908 games there was
really no comparison between the
strength of the club and college men.
The latter were far superior. Now,
however. the two elements are more
nearly on even terms. and it is question
which group will contribute the more
strength to the 1912 Olympic team.
In connection with this there has arisen
a keen discussion as to the respective
merits of John Paul Jones of Cornell
and Melvin Sheppard of the Irish Amerl-
can Athletic Club. Sheppard himself is
reported to have said that he believes
he can defeat Jones in both the half and
the mile. though he is not so sure of
victory in the latter event. The majority
of college men contend that Jones can
beat Sheppard over any distance they
wish to run. A comparison of the two
mems records shows that Sheppard has
run the half mile in 1.Gs 50. Jones best
time for this distance is 1..'4 10. Shep-
pard has run the mile in 40. while Jones
has a mark OF Al - seconds, which is
now the world record.
The writer is inclined to the belief that
if the two men show their 1911 form this
year Jones will prove himself the master
of Sheppard in either distance. ANY one
who saw Jones perform at Cambridge
last year knows that he could have run
the mile considerably faster than he did.
In fact he must have been able to
go the distance in 4:12 or better He
ran a winning race throughout and only
made his effort on the last quarter He
could have reached the three-quarter
mark in five seconds quicker time than
he did. and still have run the last quar-
ter in less than a minute. Sheppard has
never shown anything like the ability
to run i'm such time.
As to the half mile, Jones did not
have an opportunity to show what he
could do hen he made his new inter
collegiate record of la 40 for the $50
yards he had made his world-record mile
not more than forty-five minutes before.
In this event he had very little of the
sort Of competition which PAUL and
Hanivan gave him in the mile. If the
two races had been reversed there is no
doubt that Jones could have made new
world record in the half mile as well as
in the mile.
In comparing the two men h must he
remembered that Sheppard is at least
eight years older than Jones. Sheppard's
career has been truly remarkable in the
way he has held on to his speed 4 good
many champions have come and gone
during Sheppard's reign. Predictions
have been freely made since 1905 that
each year would see his eclipse, but he
has always come back, and last year
was apparently as strong as ever, Last
year was Jones first effort in intercol
legiate athletics. He absolutely refused
to run for any athletic club, and has
never appeared in any competition eN-
cept carrying the colors of Cornell. Jones
takes exceptional care of himself and
ought to improve this year.
If Jones completes in the official tryout
at Boston June this will be the first
meeting between him and Sheppard 1t
is likely though that since both men will
be sure of places the team. if they
compete one will be entered in the half
mile and the other in the mile. This
would prevent A meeting between them
before they run at Stockholm. As the
United States will wish to get as many
points as possible, it is likely that both
will run the SD0 and the 1,JU meters
as Well That being the case. the relative
superiority of the two will not be decided
for some time