Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-09
HeiSman Writes About Athletics
Must Watch For 1915 Olympiad

and development. Nothing could
more clearly indicate how seriously
the French are taking these world
championships
NOR will 1t be forgotten that
~ Sweden is already in heavy
training with big team under the
able direction Of Ernie Hjertberg. nor
that Greece Is again to hold the little
or biennial Olympic meet again next
year at Athens, which will serve to
keep her athletes on their metal until
1916 rolls around, nor that England
has already prepared to send a spe-
cial deputation to America to study
the way Americans go at this busl-
ness of training and bringing out
their track athletes
SOME Of us have feared that the
- leaders in American track and
field sports were liable to go to sleep
during these four years between 1912
and 1916. But happily, the indica-
tons are that everybody on this side
Of the water is more on the qui vive
than ever. and the great number Of
athletes now taking part I'm these
sports the country over is sufficient
evidence that we are just as much
in earnest about that piece of bunt-
ing for 1916 as is any nation on the
other side of the ditch.
The first indication we had this
spring 81 what kind Of an interest
was going to be taken In the United
States this year in track sports was
given at the University of Pennsyi-
vania annual relay races I'm April
last, when over 1000 collegians and
prep athletes participated. represent
ing over 60 colleges and schools.
The next proof we had was when
the national intercollegiates took
place in May. At this meet not only
We're there more athletes entered
from more different colleges than
ever before, but a greater number Of
colleges than ever before divided the
total number OF points that could be
scored. Fancy Penn winning the
meet with hardly more than "a score
of points whereas fifteen years ago
the winning team usually swept the
board Of at least so points This
speaks well for the keen competition
now being put up by a large number
Of college teams.
Exactly the same thing happened
at the Western Conference meet and
also at the southern Intercollegiate
meet held in New Orleans Not only
were there more teams entered at
the New Orleans meet but some eight
Of them divided the points. whereas,
in former years, they have usually
all been gobbled up by about three
OF four teams at most.
And last Saturday the 4 A. L. Ma
uonal senior championship meet was
held in Chicago. also with a record
number OF entries. The total Of 162
points scored was divided between
twelve different athletic clubs or or
CARNATIONS and three A. \. L..
records were broken.
THIS outline of what America is
doing is sufficient to put at rest
any anxiety lest we may be taking
things too lightly in the matter OF
keeping ourselves in shape TO cope
with the increased and improved
ability Of the representatives of other
countries. And the best Of il is that
some of the very finest work done
on the Cinder paths this year was
that of mere school boys and boys
of a younger generation. Each time
an Old-timer quits the game in most
any line of sport we incline to believe
that we shall never look upon his like
again.
Happily this is already being dis
proven in the case of track sports
in this country; and, even If not a
single man OF those who successfully
competed for the Stars and Stripes
last year in Stockholm were able to
go TO Berlin three years hence, il
begins TO look as though we will have
a whole new crop of youngsters who
win he well able TO look after the
task of properly maintaining Ameri-
can prestige in competition with the
stars OF all the rest Of the world.