Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-28
PICK WESTERN men.
Athletes, Though, Not as Good
as Performances Indicate.
RYAN EXPERIENCED MAN
Lad Who Won Boston Marathon
Was Competitor in Lon
don in 1908.
BY EDWARD r. BUSHNELL.

some prominent athletic official from
the middle west is credited with the COM
pilation of a most imposing list of track
and field athletes who are reported to be
in training for the Olympic team and will
compete in the official try-outs to be held
at Chicago June 3. The impression
thought to be conveyed is that this Sec
ton of the country will contribute as
much strength to the American team as
the east, the try-outs for which VIII be
held at Boston on the day.
What makes this list look truly re-
markable are the records with which the
men are credited. II these performances
were bona fide the middle west could al
most win the Olympic games for America
without the assistance Of either the east
or the Pacific coast. In addition to r. c.
Craig of Michigan, who, of course, has
repeatedly demonstrated his ability to run
100 yards in 8 4-5 seconds. and the 22O
yards in 81 is seconds, another man,
Guy Reed of the University Of Nebraska,
is. credited with a performance in 40
seconds for the century. Four other men
are credited with 10 seconds. two with
better than % seconds for the furlong
and two more with % seconds.
In the quarter mile three men. Reed Of
Nebraska, Lindberg of Chicago A. A. and
Davenport of Chicago University. are
credited with better than 80 seconds,
while one other man Is given 80 seconds.
An analysis of the men referred to is
sufficient proof that Craig Is the only
1O-second sprinter in the lot and can
probably give every other man referred
to handicap of two yards In the snort
sprint and beat him. Ford, the former
Cornell runner, cannot be regarded as
consistent 1O-second man. although he
may have been credited with this time
in some dual meet where only single
heat was required. WATSON OF Notre
Dame and Wilson of C0e College are both
fair sprinters, but it should be remem-
bered that WATSON won this event at
the 1911 conference meet In 10 LOO Sec
onds, with Wilson in second place. En-
thusiastic writer's are too much inclined
to credit athletes with performances
which they never made.
There is no doubt whatsoever concern
ing the wonderful speed Of Davenport,
the Chicago University man. in the quar-
ter mile. Davenport won this event at
the conference championships In 1910 IN
4S As seconds, and is really consistent
performer. If the other men credited
with so seconds or better can really run
in that time they will afford much en-
enlargement to the Olympic committee.
but these expert judges would like to
see the performances made against other
high-class athletes of known ability.
Passing on to the half-mile runners,
Davenport has a bona fde record OF
1.56 40, but not many eastern critics VIII
believe that Bermond of the University
of Missouri ever made the same time,
with which he is credited, though he ran
second to Davenport last year.
Although 1t may be typographical err
ror, Hanavan of the University OF Michi-
LIS 1-5. This is one-fifth Of second
faster than the world record. made by
Jones of Cornell at Cambridge last year.
when he defeated Hanavan by fifteen
yards. On that occasion Hanavan must
have run the distance in time very close
to 4.1s, but no faster. Another mile rum
ner who Is credited with good time is
Taylor Of the Chicago Athletic Associa-
ton. This Taylor is probably p. ]. Tay-
lor. the former Cornell University star;
I. c. A. A. A. A. games, when
he beat w. C. PAUL of Penn
sylvania by inches. Three years ago
Taylor ran the two miles for Cornell in
and American record for the distance
He has yet to demonstrate that he can
regain the form which he showed in col
Iege.
credited with having a record of Is 1-5
seconds for the high hurdles. He Is un-
doubtedly good man, and this year has
been credited with q performance Of
10 % seconds. OF the other hurdlers
named Stibolt is the former Cornell Uni
holm of Yale I'm both the high and low
hurdles at the last !. c. A. A. A. A..
games. He has never shown ability to do
better than Is 3-5 second over the high
sticks or "a as seconds for the low hur-
dies.
In regard to the broad jumpers eastern
men must concede the superiority of f.
c. Irons of the Chicago Athletic Associa-
ton. particularly IL he can duplicate his
performances in 1908. when he won the
event at the OLYMPIC games with lean
of "a feet 81 inches. He, however, has
not equaled that performance since. e.
r. Cook of the Cleveland Athletic Club
is credited with % feet 81 inches. a per-
Torrance he made as school boy. but
never equaled while a student at Cornell
Cook is better pole vaulter than broad
jumper, and Is undoubtedly good for IL
feet inches. the height with which he is
credited. There is no doubt concerning
the ability of the other western pole
vaulters. Coyle of Chicago University
and Murphy of Illinois are both good for