New-York tribune., 1917-12-03
twenty-five Thousand See
Finish of Five-Mile
Race for Soldiers
By A. c. Cavagnaro


Company Of the 18th Regiment, now
stationed al Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn,
won sensational victory over Nick
Ganakopulos, Of the medical corps Of
the l06th Infantry, Spartanburg, n. C.,
for the individual honors in the scratch
road run for service men held by the
Morningside Athletic Club yesterday.
Leslie's margin Of victory was only
three yards, he losing almost twenty
yards in the final one hundred yards by
mistaking the finishing lipe. However,
he emerged from a side door Of house
which he had entered to outsprint the
orrushing Greek to the tape.
No more bitter fight has character
lied a scratch run than that furnished
By the two former national 'cross.coun-
try champions over the trail OF I'VE
miles. Nick and Leslie left their rivals
behind at the second mile and we're
practically side by side until the l55th
Street Viaduct, one-ouarter Of mile
AiOn tlAt AulSu, Ndo icaSuNos
Fine Sprint Gains Victory
It was down this hilly, cobblestone
roadway that Leslie brought into eH-
ecution his great speed and sprinted
away from Gianakopulos. The latter
battled gamely to hold his speedier
rival, but 10 no avail. Leslie's time OF
25:16 was an unusually creIitable per
formance, considering IL wss his FIRST
effort at this distance in two years,
and the fact that the runners had TO
fight strong west wind.
William Furlong, lately of the Holly
wood Inn. of Yonkers, but now attached
to the 30sth Infantry, at Camp Upton,
finished third, being one and a bali
minute behind Gianakopulos. Furlong
gained the place by thrilling sprint
over the final one hundred yards, just
nosing out Joe Scarlata, q regiment
mate.
TIE contest was the first army and
navy race held in this city, and of the
sevent ty-two scheduled runners only
/ thirty were absent at starting time.
Eight military units Of the East were
represented. The majority Of the sol
diers were shielded from the biting cold
with extra apparel, and the six who did
not safeguard themselves in this re-
spect failed TO complete the stiff trail.
Probably $4,000 persons watched the
finish. Lieutenant Frank p. kieser, OF
the Morningside Athletic Club. sent the
athletes on their way. General Frank
lin Bell, Of Camp Upton. who was 10
have been the starter, tslegraphcd his
regrets.
As thrilling a tussle as that which
I ka - fe.s1
was seen in the team struggle. The
| first team Of the S0Sth Infantry, from
Camp Upton. be.S out the Army AM
bulance team from Allentown, Penn,
by one point. The score was 20 20 80.
The representatives of both teams
! ran splendidly together, the judges
checking them as finishing in the FIRST
eleven men for this rrize. Third
honors went TO the Goth Company OF
Field Artillery, from Fort Schuyler.
with So, while the second Camp Upton
group was fourth.
Climb Steep Hill
/ The athletes ran through part Of
Harlem and up Broadway TO Washing
/ ton Heights, turning east at lelst
/ Street. The seyerest part Of the trail
was the steep hill from l26th Street 10
l45th Street.
with a mad rush che pack started
/ off on its journey at the crack Of Lieu
/ tenant Kieser's gun. After going sew
eral blocks Furlong was IN the van,
holding a lead of five Yards with GiaEa-
kopulos, Leslie and Sidney Jackson.
another 30Sth Infantry runner, punched
behind. Passing the one-mile point.
Gianakopulos came al reast OF Furlong.
With the Greek was Leslie and Jack
/ son. Ganakopulos then set the pace
and. with his three other rivals at his
heels. they began TO open up big gap
on the next runner.
The crucial point of the race was AZ
/ 126th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Here Gianakopulos heightened his
stride as il he were competing in q
one mile race. His opponents held the
pace we'll for one block, when furlong
ard Jackson began to drop 70 the rear.
Leslie was doggiDg the Greek heels.
From here on It developed into a Les
e-Gianakopulos duel.
Occasionally Leslie would test hi
bigger rival with a sprint and, finding
Gianakopulos still strong, would drop
behind 10 bide his time again. Tho
battle between the two runners gradu-
ally opened big gap on the remainder
of the field. Starting the final halt
mile. Furlong. who was third. was sey-
eral blocks in the rear
When the viaduct was reached Leslie
again shot forward into sprint an
for two blocks Sopulos managed
20 stay at his side Leslie was not 10
be denied and, continuing on, finally
succeeded in leaving his opponent be
hind. One block from the finish Leslie
held a lead Of twenty-five yards over
the Greek
Leslie almost threw first place 10 the
winds when be ran into the clubhouse.
believing that he had crossed the finish
line. but he mama ed " discover n.S
orror IN the nick Of time