Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-11
DATE FOR SWEDE
MEET CHANGED TO
SUIT AMERICANS
Ted Meredith and Two
Others Will Compete
Abroad in October
BY TED MEREDITH

At the invitation of the Swedish Athletic
| Committee to Frederick w. Ruben, secre-
| tary and treasurer of the a. A. u. of the
| United States, to send myself and two
| other American track men over to COM
| pete in the Swedish national champion
| ships, Mr.. Ruben Immediately got in touch
| with the men whom he thought would be
able to take the trip, and tried to get n
| three-man team which could measure up
as a trio that would cover the program
| of events That is he wanted men who
could compete in two or three events.
There way another hitch to the arrange
| ments. too. The Swedish meet was too
close to our national championships. ours
come on September . and the week follow
ing the relay races are to be held. Mr..
Ruben objected to the men leaving this
country until all of this country's pro-
gram was over, so on cabling the Swedish
| authorities the date was changed until
October This proved satisfactory to sew
eral of the men here, so think it will be
arranged.
Makeup Not Decided
The makeup of the team has not yet
been decided. but l have teegraphed Mr.
Ruben that could go under any arrange
ments which he would make. The other
men will probably be Joe Loomis, of Chi
cago. and a distance runner. | do not
know who the distance man will be, but
Imagine ne VIII Ne q WeSterner, ana tnat
means Joie Ray to me. Ray can run a
mile and two-mile and seems TO be the
best man out of college at these distances
This would make very good all-round
team. LOomis is good for four events-l00
and 220 yards, hurdles and high jump
do not think Sweden could put out a man
who could beat the tall Westerner in any
of these events. I could run the quarter
and half mile races, while the distance
man could take care of all over this.
Should we be able to get enough rest be-
tween races this team could come near
winning any dual meet with the Swedish
clubs
L am anxious to take this trip because
of the present conditions in Europe. We
would be able to see how the war had
affected that part OF the world and could
help keep up the good feeling of sports
manship which existed to such a high de-
gree four years ago.
l also shall try to work in some business
on this trip by looking over the dyestufrs
situation for house with which 1 am con-
nected
Swedish Athletes a Mystery
do not know how good the Swedish ath-
letes are. We have not seen any of their
men since the games in Stockholm, but /
think we shall find them a good bunch
Ernie Hertberg, the Swedish trainer is
good man in the track game, and it would
not surprise me TO find the hardest kind of
competition. They were fine lot of ath-
letes in 1912 and gave the American team
hard battle. At this time they were Just
starting to get on TO the American ways as
were taught them by Hertberg, so after four
years they should be much improved
We will be gone four weeks at the very
least, and even then will only be in Sweden
for ten days. The championships will be
held about October 10, and after that 1
imagine the Swedish authorities will plan
meet for us in other cities, the champion
ships being In Stockholm. / am very
anxious to see Stockholm again and see
what II looks like when not on dress parade,
as 1t was in 1912 during the Olympic games
l have not kept In touch with the per-
formances made by the Swedes in their
championship meets in the last few years,
so do not know Just who they have to put
against us, but we will not go there feeling
that we will have no competition. on the
other hand, we will be fully prepared to do
our very best. The Nationals will find us
all up in our best condition and not needing
a rest. This will be furnished by the sea
trip, which will be ten days.
The exercise which We will be able 10
get on the ship will be enough to keep
our weight down and when We land we viii
have two or three days to put on the
finishing touches This Is the best kind
OF rest, too. l find although you are very
liable to put on too much weight. This
would be the danger for us, especially after
working so hard all summer in the pre-
paratory meets for the championships.