The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-02-05

. America would rather win the races on the programme once wrote the late James E. Sullivan in refer enee to Olympic games. James E. Sullivan was right. There's nothing so satisfying to this country, or any other for that matter, from an athletic standpoint, than to win a Marathon in an Olympic event meet. Thus far America has swept the boards, prac- tica1ly, at every OIympiad. Her ath- letic superiority is unQestioned. Of the six Marathon races that have been contested in Olympiads since 1896 Uncle Sam has won two of them. T. J. Hicks won at St. Louis in 1894 and Johnny Hayes in Lon don in 1908. America is looked up- on 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-we11 that as Kiphng says lis another story" Uncle Sans rivals realize that there is considerable consolation to be gained by putting over a triumph in the gruelling Marathon Run. "A vic tory in the Marathon" has become the slogan abroad and no stone is being left unturned to insure a win in this event.
 England bowed to America at Stockholm in 1912 but she had the satisfaction of winning the classic Marathon when McArthur of South Africa crossed the finish line first. In the first twelve men home in this event seven were Anericans-a won derful showing whicn nevertheless
 1,,S+ c1 oI, c-riTl at ing the loss of first place.
 Each country in the Olympics this year will send a strong representa- ton to the starters mark for the ter rible Marathon. Each year it seems to be the heritage Of comparative unknown to achieve triumph in this celebrated event. At Athens in 1906 1t was Sherring, a Canadian well thought of in his own country but bardly rated as the greatest distance runner of the world. Johnny Hayes the little American who triumphed in London two years later was the least known of the American Mara thon contingent. He was fresh from a clerkship in a department store ana few conceded him a chance to win the highest athletic honors. Stro- bino, the first American home al
 
 l was a case similar to Hayes. Sock alexis, Forshaw and Twanina were the Americans thought to have the best chance of breastfng the tape with the American shield. Strobino was | considered lucky to have made the | team at all.
 Who will it be and what country will he represent in the victorious eff 1 fort at Antwerp this year? Hun i! dreds of athletes. fired by the legend i of the Athenian soldier who ran al, l the way from Marathon to Athens
 to announce a victory over the Pers.
 ian hordes and then dropped dead
 will attempt to repeat (excluding the ] demise) the glorious athletic achieve
 ment of the ancient soldier.
 The brave warrior of Miltiades one purpose was to herald the victory o1 | Athenian arms to his countrymen
 The present day Marathon runners
 single intention is to apprise his owr countrymen through skilled reporters
 that they have achieved a great ath-
 letic triumph by his efforts. Quite g
 difference in purpose to be sure. Bu
 the moral and physical stamina re- l quired for both amounts to the same And the present day Marathon runner 1 goes the ancient one better. He lives on and enjoys the fruits Of hi: triumph.
 | Copyright, 1920, By The Wheeler Syndicate, Incl