Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-15
INTERCOLLEGIATE TITLE FOR CORNELL-BO
MEREDITH BROKE WORLDS
4 RECORD AFTER SETTING OWN
PACE FOR ENTIRE DISTANCE
psnn Captain Took Lead at Start of Half Mile
Run and Never Was Headed-How He
Defeated Sheppard in Stockholm
By ROBERT w. MAXWELL

sprlnter. He can hold certain pace IL
there is good pacemaker and be lust
as strong at the finish. He hrs little sprint
at the end and that Is where Meredith beat
him out.
There is quite difference between Ted's
work Saturday and his performance in
stockholm four years ago, when he first
smashed the record. At that time Mere
dith, who had just finished Mercersburg
and was the ripe old age Of 10, was forced
to extend hmlesf from the start and won
only after heart-breaking sprint at the
finish.
Melvin Sheppard was responsible for the
new record, but that was because he was
after it himself He set the pace UP TO the
last 20 yards, when he faltered just long
enough for the Mercersburg boy to hurl
himself to the front and win by the scant
margin of one yard.
There is story connected with this race
which is worth repeating, In Stockholm
the best athletes in the world were en-
tered in the various events and the lists
were large. 1t was necessary to run three
heats in the distance events and they were
held on three separate days.
Sheppard won his heat in the 800 metres
run on the first day and Meredith finished
races were run, and the first two men
qualified for the semi-flnals to be held on
the following afternoon.
Sheppard Left at Post
When the semi-flnals were run off eight
men faced the starter in the first heat.
Sheppard Braun and Meredith were among
those present and fast time was looked for.
Sheppard got off to bad start, however
and was left at the post when the starter
fired his pistol. He soon caught up with
the field, but was on the outside and just
qualified at the finish when he came in
fourth. Meredith won the event In 1.54 2-5
After the race, Mel Sheppard was sore
He had narrow escape and vowed that he
never would have another
Tomorrow there will be some tall run
ming in the 500 metres," he said. ANY one
who wants to stay In the race will do the
first 100 yards in 10 seconds fiat. This
stunt of losing the pole and running around
the field is too much like work."
Mel kept his word in the final race. Az
the crack of the gun he started out like a
10-second man, with Meredith close on his
heels and Braun right behind Sheppard
kept the lead and made the first quarter In
81 1-5 seconds. He had no idea that Mere
dith was pushing him, but imagined 1t was
the German, and kept up the furious pace
in the hope of tirlng him out.
Falters in Stretch
In the home stretch he faltered and Mer-
edith came on with rush and won. by a
close margin. He finished the 500 metres
in 1857 9-i0, but kept on until the half,
mile mark had been passed. This was six
yards further and the distance was covered
in 3-5 of a second. The speed at the finish
was remarkable, as Meredith was travelling
at a 10-second clip for 100 yards
Meredith does not confine all of his star
work to the half mile Last summer he ran
440 yards in :47 fiat on a straightaway, and
in the relays he was timed at :47 3-5
around the oval. He also holds the world s
record for $50 yards indoors. with l :12 2-5.
In the Dartmouth meet two weeks ago
Ted won the 100 yards dash in 10 1-5, but
three watches caught him in 10 seconds fiat
He also captured the 220 yards dash in 20
seconds.
All of which goes to show that Meredith
is the greatest runner the world has ever
seen, and when he lays away his spiked
shoes after the intercolle9iates next week
the University of Pennsylvania will suffer
an irreparable loss.