The New York herald., 1921-12-03
RECORD ATHLETIC
SEASON PREDICTED
Increasing Number Of Indoor
Track Meets Indicates
Interest.
BY DICK LANDOn.

the amateur is turning his atten-
ton to the indoor track season.
Last winters meets were the best that
New York ever saw. Each meet had
it's attractions and the public was kept
on the qui vive by record breaking per-
formances and hair-raising finishes.
This interest undoubtedly was duo to
the fact that the Olympic Games had
just been held and the public had an
opportunity of seeing the newly crowned
and the nearly crowned worlds cham
pions in action.
Now the question arises whether or
not the coming board season can succeed
as 1t did last year without this influence.
Some say that a slump is due and others
that interest in track as a sport is on the
upgrade. We are of the latter opinion,
but the interest must be stimulated If
IL is to be kept growing. The Olympic
Games naturally acted as q fresh stimu-
lus. but three years are ahead before
that can be used again.
The key note TO athletic success in all
fields of sport SENS to be in international
competition especially during the last
two years. And this is what will help
to make the coming season greater than
ever before Why not have a race be-
tween our Joie Ray and the sensational
Hill of England? Joie himself has made
the statement that he Is eager TO meet
his conQuerer In the games at Antwerp
and, during the stay Of the combined
Oxford-Combridge track teams here this
summer it was learned that Hill was just
az eager as Joie. Then why not bring
Nurmi, the 20 year old Swedish world
| champion in the 10000 meters who
| finished second to Guillemot in the 5000
meterh, to meet Joie and our other great
| champs In the distances?
An Added Impulse.
In fact, although as a rule our foreign
| friends have not been very successful in
this country. yet there are many fine
athletes on tho other side who could
make our best travel to beat them, For
getting the side OF the public for q
moment the athletes themselves are more
| interested in this type of competition
and for that reason their own perform
ances are better. Make a man think that
he has to win for his country instead OF
for himself and he will almost invariably
! outdo himself.
Naturally, there are many draw
backs. 1t costs money to finance the
meet, let alone bring some champion
| from the other side. But IL seems 10
us that II the clubs would be farsighted
| enough 10 get together early and send
out an invitation TO foreign athletes
| TO compete in a certain set OF games,
| each club to bear part of the ex.
pense il could be arranged easily.
The announcement by the Guaranty
| Club that they were to disband was "a
great misfortune. for in our opinion 1t
was the meet held under their auspices
| which was the climax OF last winters
season. This meet will be sadly missed.
| The meets held in the Garden always
| seem to attract greater crowd, mainly
! perhaps because of it's accessibility,
whereas, the majority of meets are held
| in armories in less fortunately situated
localities. The Garden also has an
other great asset, particularly for the
| jumpers. since spiked shoes can be
worn. The other floors are so hard and
slippery that n jumper is always in
more or less danger from "a bad spill.
The runners, however. seem 10 favor
the hard floors and OF course they are
| to be first served,
watch Tom Campbell.
One thing is certain. The races are
| going TO be better than ever. Take for
example, Long Tom Campbell. At the
end of last season he was ia very bad
condition from trying to do too much,
But we predict that after his layoff he
|
| speed and endurance than he has ever
| shown before. He is great. coura-
| geous half miller II is his ambition 10
break the existing half mile record 80
| that training for that, us he intends
| doing. the public can be sure that this
winter will show him travelling faster
| than ever sefore. Hal Cutbill, the
| Flying Parson, was probably the sensa-
tion last year and he will make Lone
| Tom step I'm many races. lie is an
| other man whose heart Is I'm his work
and that Is one OF the main causes OF
| his success.
The fact that so many meets are
! scheduled throughout the early part OF
tho winter. giving the athletes a greater
chance 10 get into condition. Will insure
| big entries in the important lato season
meets and the national championships
which come In March.
This In the time to begin 20 prepare
| for 1924 Olympics, and II may be said
that the foreign countries viii be able
to give lteener competition three years
| from now, for they are only beginning
to take a real interest In the games
| Tho United states will not have as easy
"A fob 70 bring back the worlds cham.
pionship as heretofore. So. with the
] coming season, we can expect TO see
more newcomers than ever making their
mark in the athletic hall OF fame.