The sun., 1919-10-26
Greater Than Ray, Taber,
Kiviat, Connect or George at
Eight Furlongs.
WAS CAPABLE OF 4:1O
Eddie Fall, Formerly Of Ober-
lin, Coming King and Prob
able Olympic Champion.
Nv GEORGE n. UNDERWOOD.

miller?
Joie Rays recent sensational rqn-
nIng--thc Illinois A. c. fier three times
inside OF three weeks reeled Off miles
under I:16 and two Of the races were
covered in AIS 2-5--brings the question
uppermost in the minds OF the devotees
of the track and field game.
Because of Rays sensational running
many OF the present day athletic fans
are likely to award the crown to Ray
without a murmur. Old timers. however.
who recall the cinder path deeds Of the
late lamented Tommy Conner and
the great English professional w. G.
George, will hesitate before allowing thu
palm to go to the timber legged lad from
Chicago. Little Abel Kiviat Of the Irish
American A. c. likewise will have to be
considered. Some, and perhaps a ma
jority, will say that the crown belongs to
Norman Taber They have a strong
reason for so declaring. for the former
Brunonian and Boston A. A track hero
is in undisputed possession Of the worlds
record Of 4.12 3-5.
In the minds Of the closest followers
of athletics, however. there Is one man
not mentioned above who stands with
out a peer among the worlds milers
outclassing even Taber. George. Conner
and Ray. That man is the old Cornell
Ian John Paul Jones.
sulIivan'x Opinion.
The late James E. Sullivan. than whom
there never was closer and more in
telligent student of athletics, was OF the
belief that under proper conditions Jones
was capable of stepping a mile in 40.
The opinion expressed by Mr.. Sullivan
is shared by the majority of the closest
followers of athletics. One needs only
to go back to the conditions that OBJ
tanned and the manner in which the race
was run when Jones in the intercol-
legiate championships in 1913 turned in
IA 2-5 to find convincing proof to sub
stantiate the truth OF Mr.. Sullivan's
assertions.
Students of athletics will not hesitate
in declaring that Jones's intercollegiate
title winning race in 1918 In LIZA 2-5
was superior to Taber's Asa 3-5 race
against time two years later.
Taber made his worlds amateur record
Of 4:12 3-5 in an especially arranged time
trial with eliminates out on special
marks ahead TO furnish pace and carry
him along when such a procedure most
was neeueu. Inc race was SthHtu at -
season of the year which gave the Bru
nonisn the benefit of weather conditions
and allowed for the right kind of prepar-
atory work preceding It. Taber had
nothing on his mind but the moving
along al the right pace that would bring
him TO the record figures, and even In
that he was furnished aid by his selected
pacemakers. ]. NJ. Burke, ID. ]. Mahoney
and ]. w. Ryan.
On Harvard Track.
Ryan paced Taber the first part OF the
journey, Mahoney during the middle
stages, and Burke pulled him through
the final quarter. Taber hung up his
figures on the same track in the Harvard
Stadium in which Jones had beaten him
in real competition.
John Paul Jones ran his IA 2-5 mile
in real championship competition. He
was not racing against time. He
was racing to win for his college, and
had to plan his running accordingly. He
had to pit speed, stamina and racing
judgment against big field of milers
who were There to tear their very hearts
out to achieve triumph themselves.
Every trainer knew that Jones was the
one his man would have to beat to
win. and consequently every handicap in
pace instead of aid, as in Taber's case,
confronted the Comedian. Runners were
carefully schooled to crafty attempt to
make Jones run at a pace that least
would suit his capabilities.
Among the men Jones defeated in
the intercollegiate championship win
ming 4 IA rs race in 1918 was Taber
himself Both Taber and Harmon OF
Dartmouth ran under go, so 1t can be
seen he had worthy competitors. Taber
was clicked In 4:16 2-5 and Harmon in
AIS AS. Following his victory in the
mile Jones took his mark In the half
mile race and forced Brown of Yale to
do :55 1-J to beat him by the proven
bal eyelash.
Jones's 1911 Feats.
Two years previously Jones won the
mile and the half mile at the inter- |
collegiate championships. He grabbed |
the mile in 4 is 2-5, smashing the then |
existing worlds amateur record OF |
4:15 80 made by Tommy Conneff back |
in 1895. and then, with only a few min |
utes rest intervening, went out and took |
the half mile title in l "a AS, smash |
ing Eli Parsons's All-America collegiate /
record made six years previously.
In the 1911 races Jones beat the great |
Wilton PAUL OF Pennsylvania and Hani- |
van of Michigan. both go men, in the |
mile, and then ran such fliers as Herb |
Putnam of Cornell, Jacques of Harvard |
and Bodley OF Penn into the ground in |
the half mile event.
Like Taber. Tommy Connect made his |
worlds amateur mile record of :15 3-5 |
in a special time trial with aid from /
selected handicap men. Tommy ran !
under special weather and track con- |
ditions. They even waited TIL the hush
Of the evening for sun and wind to die |
down before letting Tommy take his |
mark to go after the worlds figures Of |
AIS AS, then held by the Engllshman |
F. e Bacon.
w. G. George. RAY and Kiviat, like |
John Paul Jones' did their famous miles |
in real competition. Kiviat did his |
i:l5 S-5 at the Eastern Olympic try |
outs in the Harvard Stadium-four OF |
the seven races appearing In the ac- |
companyins table were run on the Har- |
ward track-in 1912, 1t was in a 1900 |
meter race. After leading Taber to the |
worsted in the 1900 meter contest in
500 As. worlds record which still
stands, Kiviat kept on TO the mile post.
"here he was clocked In 4:15 3-5
George VS.. Cummings.
w. G. George hung UP his xonderful
Morlos professional record OF i.12X In
ms memorable match race against Billv
cummings on the Lille Bridge track
l|ondon' England, August 20. 1855. The
Great pair OF professionals ding donead
through tlTpe-Quartprs ne a. |,