Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-17
SWEDEN PAYS GREAT TRIBUTE
TO AMERICAN ATHLETES, WHO
GAVE BRILLIANT EXHIBITIONS
Despite Adverse Weather Conditions Team
Showed Fine Form, Says Meredith-Lauds
Bolin, Zander and Melen
BY J. E. TED" MEREDITH

STOCKHOLM Oct. 16 CBy maiD
| T1HE invasion of Sweden by the Ameri-
Il can track squad has been completed
The boys of the United States retired from
their several battles In good order In nearly
every engagement, but were compelled TO
lower their flags to the Swedes on few
occasions.
The American track team which left New
York on September % for stockholm Swe-
den arrived here on Thursday, october Is,
after eleven days on board the S. S. oscar
II and n fourteen-hour ride across Norway
The following day Saturday, october IA,
we were entered in the first OF the three
day meetings in Stockholm.
This was the only drawback or the
whole trip. The ocean voyage, which be'
came tlresome, did not give us much OPP
portunlty to train. In fact, the only Things
we could do were to walk and trot AROUND
the deck. The distance around was ohy
about 110 yards, 40 this made 1t II poor
training track, due to the stops necessary
in order to make the sharp turns, and then
on rough days we could not even do TINS
without danger of spraned ankles or pulled
tendons. This work did not prove enough
for us and especially not for me- VINO hau
the longer distances to run
No Time to Train
The result was that when we landed we
were sorely in need of work, but did NOT
have time to get it in before the first meet
Notwithstanding these obstacles, the ooys
all did very well and took nearly every
first place in which they were entered Ihe
only events lost were the ones IN whlch
the men needed the work most. the hlBh
Jump for instance, in which LOOMS was
defeated by Kulerstrand, Loomis had not
had an opportunity to jump Tor over TWO
weeks and yet did six feet.
In the half mile | was forced to take
second twice, the first time In l;bS ana the
second in so, to Bolin, one OF Erhle
Hjertberg's stars He Is very soou man
and can do /: :54, / am sure. could not
go the distance under the conditions, so
had to give way in the event and on the
same track In which l made my start in
1912
The weather was also drawback to
our bows. as the ground was frozen and
twice we had snowfalls. In spite OF all
these dlscomforts In training we had
fine time and enjoyed every minute OF our
stay in Sweden.
Swedes Hospitable
Tho swedes were very hospitable and
did not give us time to think that we
were away from home They gave us the
time of our life and something to remem-
ber for many day
The meeting at Stockholm extended over
three days, with four or Ave events each
afternoon As the days are very short and
the sun shines but little in Scandinavia at
this season. we never were greeted by very
cheerful weather, but rather cold bleak
days In fact the weather tended TO tie
up our legs and made us stifr after running.
In my running of the distances found that
| would tie up before the race was over
and had very little sprint on the home
stretch.
In the sprlnts they did not have n real
good man and the races always were be-
maj I,DnmiS Ward
ray and Simpson. Loomis was exception
ally good in sprinting on this trip and won
all of the races he entered. In the 100
meter race at Stockholm Ward and Loomis
had very close finish. This was the only
race In which Ward really showed his
championship form. He caught a bad cold
on board the ship which grew worse at
Stockholm and left him in poor shape,
Supreme in Hurdles
The hurdles events were a cneh for our
men. Simpson won the three races. with
Murray second, with ease and displayed to
the Swedes the revolutlonized style OF taxi
ing the sticks" Both these men were
great attraction to the Swedes as they see
little IL any such stunts Hjertberg has.
however a very promising young man In
this event in Hulthin, young chap OF
twenty years, who can do about 15 3-5
seconds.
The Swedish coach has not been asleep
during the last four years. as we saw at
this meet In Bolln. Melen and Zander he
has three of the most promising middle
distance runners have seen In some time.
Bolin now is running in great form and
compares with such men as Bingham.
wingnagle and Scudder as a hRlf-mler
zander Is more of miller, can do ago
and has done / Sc in the half mile. Melen
Is still a green runner. but looks the best OF
the three to me, as he is stronger and
speedler than the others. All these men
need competition, and never will be grea.
runners without 1t.
Good High Jumper
Kullerstrand, the Swedish high Jumper.
Is a good man, too. He jumps from the
side with the plain scissors kick. and with
this simple form does feet inches
Hjertberg has many other good men.
whom We did not see because they were
away doing military duty ana could moi
train.