The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-14
SULLIVAN WRITES
ON OLYMPIC TEAM
BEST BODY OF ATHLETES THAT
EVER Contested. SAYS L.
$. COMMISSIONER.
BY JAMES E. SULLIVAN

NEW YORK, June 1s.-America
will win the track and field cham
paonship of the world at the Swedish
Olympic games next month.
There Is no intention OF appearing
hoassfui or oeercenfident In making
this assertion II Is simply plain
statement OF fact. Never before has
this country gathered together
team for an Olympic meeting which
has nearly approached in we'll bal
anced strength the present collection
of record breakers and champions
which will sail on the Finland to-
morrow to represent the United states
in the sixth revival OF the famous
Olympic sports.
In predicting that the American
team will score more than so per
cent OF the total points scored In the
track and field sports / do not think
that any rash prophesy is being made.
as the teams which in the past nve
Olympic revivals have beaten the
world would not for minute have a
chance OF victory against the present
team and even by making due allow
the old countries competing against
US, fail to see where they are going
to beat us in large majority of the
events,
For the first time since Wa have
been attending these games We have
a chance to win the team race al
5000 metres. In the past this race
has gone 10 England or France and
tha best Wa have done is to run third
This year with Jones, Berna, Scott
RnDhagv kixjat,, Tabor sua WIZ OF. 70
pick from We have better balanced
team than any which can be started
against US.
In the sprint we are stronger than
at the London games, but in these
two races there is always the posi-
bility OF defeat by some unknown who
/ has been kept under cover for these
races alone. so that while we will un-
douhtedly score heavily In the sprints
II is not well to be overcontident OF
the ability of our men.
Our only weakness, as / see II. Is
T In the standing jump, where the
Greeks have a man who forced Ray
Ewry to his limit at London and
from the latest reports this man has
improved We have nobody who can
throw the javelin as do the foreigners
| and in throwing the discus with both
hands the unfa .niliarity of our men al
throwing with the left hand is going
to be a serious handicap.
Our principal points will be scored
in the running events up to the s.
600 metre race and IN the pole vault
the running high and the running
broad jumps. tho hammer throw. the
shot-put, and the hurdles In tbs
marathon race we nave an excellent
chance. with one of the best corps
of long distance men which have ever
worn our colors, and j am looking
| forward to this race TO prove that we
have the best long distance runners
as well as the leaders In the other
| events.
One thing which has been inn
| pressed on the athletes Ia that there
must be no protesting against de,
| oisions no matter what happens and
| wish to state that the Americas
| committee will not protest the entr,
OF John Flanagan in the hammer
| throw, as a member OF the English
| team and no other man Will be pro.
| tested for any reason. We are ,sains
| through this Olympiad without givins
any country chance to pass un-
favorable comment on our sportsman
ship, even though we suffer for IL.
We do not expect trouble of any
kind, as the Swedish committee has
acted from the beginning in .hor.
oughly sportsmanlike manner. but Il
trouble comes we are going to meet Il
by scoring 80 heavily in the game.
that there will be no possible ,hancs
Of q defect.