The New York herald., 1922-02-20
Bob McAllister Is First Cham
pion to Be Developed In
side Department.

The first athlete of championship
caliber to be developed in the Police
Department of the city of New York
is Bob McAllister, a twenty-two-year-old
member of Inspector Bolans staff. He
earned this distinction by defeating
Bernie Wefers, Jr., of the New York
Athletic Club, winner of many titles. and
other notable sprinters in decisive
fashion in the 100 yard Metropolitan
A. A. u. championship race at the
games of the Samaclar A. G. two weeks
ago. No other sprinter ever rose to
championship heights in a shorter pc
ried. Only four months elapsed between
his first appearance in a race in this
country and his winning of titular
honors in competition with the best
short distance flyers in the metropolitan
district
His debut took place in the $50 yard
handicap dash at the police games at
the old Gravesend racetrack last Sep
tember and was a success. He won
first prize from scratch, defeating the
fleetest footed men in the Police De-
partment, to all of whom he conceded
liberal handicaps. Some of those whom
he outfooted were men of much expert
ence in running races and with victories
to their credit against A. A. U. men.
open A. A. u. competition for the first
time at the games of the New York
Athletic club at Travers Island. Again
success was his. Starting from the six
yard mark i'm the 100 yard run he won
in the fast time Of IL seconds.
Although McAllister's appearance
among candidates for the big prizes in
the amateur athletic world was long de-
layed he was far from being stranger
TO the requirements of competition. At
the age OF II. while a student of Holy
Name Parochial School. at Ninety
seventh street and Amsterdam avenue,
he won the sprinting championship for
midgets Victory in a so yard dash
gave him his title. Many years passed
before he again tried for running
honors. TO be exact. eleven.
His return to the arena of athletic ac-
tivities took place in France in 1918.
Enlfsting in the air service in 1917, he
was among the first of the United States
regulars ordered to Europe. One year
later he took part in set OF games
staged at Beaumont, France. for Amer
lean and French soldiers. He elected to
start I'm the 100 meter run, which he
won in l. 2-5 seconds. Among those
who chased his pace all the way was
Andre, the famous all around French
athlete. who gained place in the hur-
die race at the Olympic games.
The new local champions greatest
handicap up to the time OF his winning
the title race was nervousness az the
start. Fearful Of getting away badly.
he frequently left his mark before the
starters gun. Such infraction OF the
rules caused the inniction Of FREQUENT
penalties and mitigated against his sue
cess because il compelled him to con-
ceic handicaps to tho others.
The police champion now believes he
has overcome the nervousness which
cost him so dearly in the past He said
il was due to the position of his hands
on the floor when the order came from
the starter to get set"
lie has changed the position OF his
hands when resting on che floor Now
the fingers are spread out in farlike
fashion and relaxed. The tension which
developed the nervousness has disap-
peared The new style OF starting also
enables him to leave his mark very
quickly
McAllister is feet s inches tall and
weighs 100 pounds. He Is a compactly
built fellow. with deep chest and pow
crful legs.