South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-06
BY ED. HUGHES.
The Famous sport Cartoonist.

Inc EIInOuS Sport AfiTtOOnlSi.
America would rather win the
Marathon race chan any other three
races on the program" once wrote
the late James Z. Sullivan in refer
ence 10 Olympic games. James +.
Sullivan was right There's nothing
so satisfying to this country. or any
other for that matter. from an ath-
letic standpoint. than TO win a Mar
athOn in an Olympic meet. Thus
far America has swept the boards.
Practically, at every Olympiad. Her
athletic superiority is unquestiOned.
OF the six Marathon races that have
oeen contested in Olympiads since
1896 Uncle sam has won two %
them. T. J. Hicks won at st. Louis
in 1904 and Johnny Hayes in Lon
don in 1903. America is looked
upon as an almost sure winner in
the sum and total of events in the
seventh Olympiad at Antwerp this
year But as TO the Marathon race
well. that, as Kipling says. " is an
other story" Uncle Sans rivals
realize that there is considerable
consolation to be gained by putting
over a triumph in the gruelling
Marathon run. "A victory I'm the
Marathon" has become the slogan
abroad and no stone is being left
unturned TO insure a win in this big
event
England bowed to America at
Stockholm In 1912 but she had the
satisfaction of winning the classic
Marathon when Macarthur. of South
Africa, crossed the finish line first.
In the first Il men home in this
event seven were Americans won
derful showing which nevertheless
couldn't diminish the cbagrin at
tending the loss of first place.
4 Great Test.
Each country entered the Olym-
pics this year will send a strong
representation to the starters mark
for the terrible Marathon. Each
year il seems to be the heritage of
comparative unknown to achieve
triumph in this celebrated event.
At Athens in 1906 It was Sherring.
a Canadian well thought OF in his
own country but hardly rated as
the greatest distance runner Of the
world. Johnny Hayes. the little
American who triumphed in Lon
don two years later. was the least
known OF the American Marathon
contingent He was fresh from a
clerkship in a department store and
few conceded him a chance to win
the highest athletic honors Shro-
bino. the first American home at
Stockholm and who finished third,
was a case similar to Hayes. Sock
alexis. Forshaw and Tewanin3 were
the Americans thought 10 have the
best chance Of breasting the taIe
with the American shield. Strobino
was considered lucky to have made
the team at all.
Who Will Win.
Who will Il be and what country
will he represent in the victorious
effort at Antwerp this year? Hun
dreds OF athletes. fired by the legend
OF the Athenian soldier who ran all
the way from Marathon 10 Athens
TO announce victory over the Per
sian hordes and then dropped dead
will attempt 20 repeat Excluding
the demise) the glorious athletic
achievement of the ancient soldier.
The brave warrior OF Miltiades
one purpose was 20 herald the vic
tory OF Athenian arms 70 his coun-
trymen. The presen: day Marathon
runners single intention is 10 ap-
prise his own countrymen through
skilled reporters that they have
achieved a great athletic triumph
through his efforts. Quite a differ
ence in purposes To be sure. But
the moral and physical stamina re-
quired for both amounts 10 the
same. And tho present day Mara
thon trelker goes the ancient one
better. He lives on and enjoys the
frIliis Of his frlnmnh