The New York herald., 1920-01-25
TER REGARDED HARDEST TO BEAT At ANTWERP
new SPRINT PHENOM
SHOWS IN ENGLAND
H. N. AbrahamS, Cambridge Fresh
man, Looms Suddenly-Defeats
Hill, National Champion.
by JAMES 5. mitchell.

bN JAMES -. MIINHEL.
Recent athletic developments in the old
world are strongly indicative that Ameri-
can sprinters will have their hands full to
carry off the laurels at the next Olympic
games so il is better now that the train
res. mentors and other wizards in this
department of the track and field game
Immediately turn their attention to the
production or Improvement of real speed
lmarves. In the recent contest between
the athletes Of Cambridge University and
the members OF the Amateur Athletic As
Isociation of England a new sprint phe-
Inomenon came 10 light and. to Judge by
his build and pace. he is the man our
experts will have to reckon with next
August. The name of the newcomer is
Harold NJ. Abrahams. the youngest of a
family for years famous in intervarsity
sports among the Blues, but. good as. the
records of the older brothers have been,
the Juvenile promises still greater things.
Young Abrahams is a student at Caius
College. where he entered as freshman
from Repton School. in which institution
he hung up several records during the last
couple of years.
In this meet, which came off at Fem
ner's. Abrahasns was entered as a second
string to Guy NJ. Butler, also of Caius. and
who will be remembered as the quarter
mile national champion. but it was
thought THAI both would go down before
A. w. Hill. of the Polytechnic Harriers.
who carried the hopes of the civilians.
Hill is the national leo yard and furlong
champion. and, although he was said to
be short Of work. ii was thought he had
RETAINED enough speed to pull him through.
All the calculations proved wrong and
there was all sorts Of surprise when Abra-
hams led from start to finish and won
nv ha1 n Wit, putl
very close third.
May Beat Americans.
At first old timers who stood around
were so dumbfounded that they could not
talk, but when they found their tongues
liz was to agree that at last England was
labout to show Sprinter who could be
relied upon to give the overwhelming
Americans the right sort of battle. The
time was TO 1-5 seconds against a stiff
breeze. and this, added to the condition
lof a soggy track and a winters afternoon,
lenhanced the performance in the estima-
ton of the ultra.-critical Some old Shelf
field professionals who happened to be on
hand were more than favorably struck
with the style and build of the youngster,
for Abrahams is not yet twenty years OF
age. and they made no secret OF the
opinion that since the days OF Harry
Hutchens, the famous pro they had
not seen an Englishman of the leg prowess
of Abrahans.
1t was Immediately suggested that the
young Cantab be put right away under
the tuition of an ex-Sheffied sprinter
for thorough drilling in all the secrets
of sprinting. sonething which these
pros possessed in an abundance more
so than any other class OF men in the
world. It is not clear that the Light
Blue authorities will ever take the vau-
able advice as they are keen sticklers
for pure amateurism. but perhaps when
the British Olympic Council assumes con-
troll of their Olympic team Abrahams
may be met with some professional coach
ing. BY far the most striking point in
the makeup of Abrahams is his length
of leg and the great easy raking stride
with which he covers the ground. He
shows some roughness in spots, of course.
but this might naturally be expected on
account of his inexperence.
In looking at photograph of Abrahams
in action 81 COPELAND, former Yale coach,
stamped him as the best looking young
sprinter of this or any other generation,
and bar accident predicted wonderful
things for the Britisher.
Abrahams is something of a jumper too.
for soon after his display in the 100 yards
he took part in the running broad jump
which he won with a leap of twenty feet
eight inches. He took only one try, which
was no real test of his reported work in
private, where he was said to be clearing
twentythree feet.
should DO As Seconds.
The consensus of opinion among the
critics vino saw Abrahams win his race
was that had the reverse direction been
taken he would have covered the cen
tury' in . 4-5 seconds and this. considering
the wintry weather and the muddy track,
would earn the right OF a rare achieve
ment for the performance. At this
moment 1t Is worth while to pause and
ask IL We POSSESS a sprinter who could
duplicate the feat Of the young Cantab?
The answer should be doubtful if we are
to so by figures, and, after all they are
the truest guide to real form. For in
stance, this years national A.A.U. cham
pionship 100 yards won by William
y. Hayes of the Boston A. in 10 l-5
seconds on what might be classed as
veery fine track. on an ideal day for
sprinting and with a slight breeze in the
backs OF the runners.
The times Of both races we're the same
but the students Of athletics are not fool
ish enough to believe that Hayes would
repeat his Franklin Field form at Fem
lner's while long odds might be risked
that Abrahams would show from three
TO four yards Of an Improvement IL the
scene could be changed from England TO
America. A number Of the enthusiasts
are of the belief that Paddock, OF Califor-
mia, will be equal TO the task OF putting
Uncle Sam on the top pedestal at Ant
werp and II is TO be hoped he WILL for the
stars and Stripes is just now badly in need
of real out and out smasher in the
sprints. something on the style of Craig
Tewksbury or Wcfers.
Nobody wants TO see the fiasco OF 1908
repeated when after sending all sorts
Of record breakers to England we failed
mseraby in the 100 and 200 meters. II
lis yet fresh in the memory of all follow
ers of athletics how Reggie Walker, a
/ South African. won the 100 meters in the
record time for the Olympcs Of 10 As
seconds and how Bobbe Kerr an un-
! known Irish Canadian. romped off with
the 200 metres. practically smothering his
opponents.