The Washington times., 1921-02-08
RAY WILL OPPOSE
BIG FIELD TONIGHT
Illinois A. c. Wonder Said to Be
In Condition for His
Best Work.
By TOM THoRP.

NEW YORK, Feb. S.-NearIy every
track and field title holder east OF
Chicago will compete in the Millrose
Athletic Association games at Madison
Square Garden tonight. 1t would be
hard to collect greater squad OF
Olympic stars than the one which will
compete in the famous Gotham ath-
letic carnival. Most critics look to see
the smashing of more than one world
record at the meet
1t would be difficult to pick out the
one particular feature event SO many
International champions have entered
that 1t is safe to predict that interest
VIII be kept at fever heat from the
opening to the closing event. It may
be said. however. that the return to
competition Of. Joie Ray, the sensa-
tional Illinois A c., distance runner,
viii receive more than passing inter-
est from athletic fans.
Ray was unfortunate in the late
olympic games. An injury to one OF
his legs kept him from showing at
his best. Those who witnessed Rays
defeat at Antwerp were satisfied that
the p1ucky Westerner was not at his
top form.
INJURY ENTIRELY HEALED.
The injury has now entirely healed.
Joie has put himself through a severe
course of training work to At him
self to capture the Rodman wana-
maker trophy for the fifth year. This
prize, which is awarded to the winner
OF special one and one-half mile
race, is regarded as being emblematic
OF the indoor championship. Ray has
succeeded in winning this race on four
occasions. 1t is his intention to win
once more and then retire from the
sport.
To win the Rodman wanamaker
trophy tonight Ray will have to be
In his very best form. Entered against
him are some Of the greatest milers
In the country. Walter Higgins. the
Columbia University distance star,
who has been defeating Eastern rivals
with regularity, is Rays most dan
gerous rival.
The rest OF the field is made up Of
Bob Crawford, the Lafayette College
champion, who accomplished the re-
markable task of winning more than
forty races in competition last season; ;
Jimmy Connolly, the GEORGETOWN Uni
versity lad, who defeated all rivals in
the Southern intercollegiate meet last
year; Harry Helme, the sensational
Buffalo schoolboy, who is picked by
"pothte crltlcS as the greatest run
ner OF his age in the country; Nc
Mahon, a New England star. who
halls from Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology, and Draper, a speed mar
vel from Butler College.
HE MAY NOT START.
There is a possibility that HeIme
will not start The latter has not been
in good shape OF late. II he does not
feel In tip-top form he will not be
allowed to go to the starting line.
Judging from the caliber Of the re-
mainder of the field the race should
furnish real excitement. 1t would not
be surprising II the winner hung up
a new worlds record for the one and
half mile distance.
Local athletic fans predict that
Bernie wefers, jr., son of the former
famous runner, will hang up a new
WORLDS record in the seyentv-yard
dash. No faster sprinter than the
New York Athletic Club star has been
shown this season. The ease with
which he defeated Howard Drew.
holder OF the worlds outdoor 1oo-vsrd
record OF 3-5 seconds, Is proof Of the
sensational speed that he possesses,