South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-08
SWEDISH TRACK
MEN MAY CONE
Propose to Hold Events Under
international Amateur
Rules.

NEW YORK. March S.-If the
proposed invasion OF a Swedish ath-
letic team for a series OF interna-
tional track and field meets eventu-
ates. as appears likely. the contests
in this country will in all probabil-
ity be held under the rules OF the
International Amateur Athletic fed
Grafton. At the initial meeting OF
this body held at Lyons, France.
June 10-I2. 1914. both Sweden and
the United States athletic associa-
tons were prominent IN the fOrma-
ton OF the federation and the draw
ing up of the rules One Of the
subject given much consideration
was the standardizing Of athletics in
all parts Of the world and the estab-
fishing of a standard set of events
and record tables.
At that meeting To- which the late
James +. Sullivan was the leading
American delegate. the Ist Of rec
ognized worlds records was pre-
pared and a tentative program for
the 1916 Olympic games prOmul-
gated. All the running events were
placed under the metric system of
measurement and until the war
caused a halt in athletic competition
all the European countries conduct
ed their annual championship meets
in accordance with these rules. A.
the Swedish championships, held at
Gahe. Aug. %, 1915. 21 events were
scheduled. every one Of which was
conducted under the l. a. A. +.
rules.
Comparisons Difficult
For this reason an accurate event
by-event comparison Of the work OF
the Swedish and American winners
last season is very difficult since it
involves recourse TO mathematics
and much figuring to ascertain the
approximate time of a hundred-yard
as pared TO the winner of a hum
dred meter sprint. since a meter
Is 3.37 inches more than one yard
the L. a A r or metric system
sprinter runs 1892 yards against
the 100 yards Hat of the American
dash athlete. Ernie HjeTtberg. the
Swedish Olympic trainer. who is in
directly responsible for the pro-
posed international meets was able
TO give list of his best entrants
in the various events but declined
10 attempt TO figure out their time
or ability under the American
standards.
For the spirits Sweden has Smed-
mark and Ottander. both of whom
are good for II seconds in the hun
dred metres This is but one-hfth
OF a second slower tnan Craig's time
when the American won a similar
event in the olympic games at
Stockholm in 1912 Scandeu can
do so As seconds in the 400 meter
and Melen 15S in the 500. Fan
der is good for 1910 in the 5000
and Gilman $3.50 i'm the 10000
meter races. Zerling has won the
10 meter high hurdle race in 10
80 seconds.
Good Marks Made.
In the field events Sjoberg has
cleared feet inches i'm the high
jump; Aberg % feet inches in the
broad jump. and Sahlin As feet in
the hop. step and jump. Giue is
good for = feet o inches in the
pole vauit. Nilsson AZ feet inches
in the shotput. Lind 165 feet for the
16-pOund hammer and Stromberg
So feet with the 56-pound weight.
Some of these marks compare ia
Vorably with the records made by
Olympic. winners four years ago and
1T the Swedish athletes are called
upon 10 meet district teams only III
their coming games in America the
invading athletes will have an ex-
cellent chance of winning a fair
share Of the events at the proposed
competitions I'm New York. Chicago.
Pittsburgh and other cities Those
who know Hjertberg viii realize
that the former American middle
distance champion has taken this
into account and that ne would not
bung a team of his athletic pupils
10 this country unless he was as
sured that they would make an ex-
cellent showing.