New-York tribune., 1922-02-11
Higgins Will Oppose Ray
on Last Leg al | Mile i'm
National Meet al Buffalo
BY Jack Masters

BUFFALO, Feb. TO- - With athletes
States arriving on almost every train
and a large contingent already here
ava aiting the gun which will open the
national indoor track and field cham
pionships at tho 14th Regiment Armory
tonight, this ice-clad city appears to
be in the throes of miniature Olym-
pic carnival.
The city fathers and officials of the
Amateur Athletic Union, and, in fact,
the entire popuace OF this bustling
city. take their athletics seriously, and
If they have missed trick in their
play to make the affair a huge suc-
cess 1t has not been evident as yet.
They had to go the limit in outbiddinc
Chicago, Boston and Newark for the
title games and have taken no chances
on the affair being failure.
Athletes from the metropolitan dis
trict who scored al overwhelming
victory in the championship games
last year made their appearance late
last night. They are Walter Higgins.
Walter koppisch, Victor Graeb and
II. B. Marzolf of Columbia University;
Bernie Wefcrs jr., Sid Leslie, Dick
Landon. Eddie Eames. Joe Pcarman.
Kelly, Joe Higgins, Ted Clark and O.
Wanzcr. all of the New York A. G.:
Blli Plant, Morningside A. G.. and Bill
Massey and Ralph Hills. Princeton. and
Ed Berquist, Mohawk A. G.
Joie Ray on Hand
With the Manhattani.cs were Joie
Ray, Bramhall French and Loren
Murchison. Of the Illinois A. c. The
balance of the Windy City team has
been here for several days.
Last year the New York Athletic
Club swept everything before it in the
race for the team championship trophy.
Because of the absence Of many of the
Western stars. the Winged Foot or
ganization encountered little opposi-
ton. The struggle tonight will be no
reason that all Of the Western and
mid Western athletes will compete.
and, IN addition. the entry is an un-
usually representative one. The New
ork A. {. appears to have the best
chance because Of it's concerted
strength, but slip here or there would
easily give the victory to some other
city.
Interest appears to center on the
smile relay. i'll which Columbia Uni
versity will defend its title against a
".
quartet. 1t is generally believed that
a new worlds record will be estab-
ished for this event, for the track is
one OF the fastest in the country and
the two teams mentioned, which are
about equal favorites, are in excellent
condition for the titular test.
The distances in this medley race arc
220. 440 and $50 yards and one mile.
Murchison. Butler, Stout and Ray will
carry the Illinois A. G. colors, while
Graeb, koppisch Marzolf and Higgins
side Heights students. There are other
teams, Of course, but on past perform
ances they do not figure to win.
Graeb Should Hold Murchison
The odd feature of the race is that.
despite the great Joie Ray and Murchi-
son. another record breaker. Columbia
looks to be the best bet Barring in
reference and accidents, Graeb should
hold Murchison almost even at 22O, and
hoppisch, who has recently won the
quarter mile and 500-yard "Met" titles.
should give Marzolf a fairly good lead
over Stout in the half mile.
A great deal depends on what Mar
zolf can do with Stout. I believe he
vii beat Chicago veteran who has long
since passed his top form. but as
nave not seen the esterner race since
last summer. he may have improved.
Thus, if Marzolf can give Higgins any
thinfi like twenty-yard lead on Raw.
the chesty little taxi driver is likely to
take the beating of his life. His best
time for the distance this season is
4:20 3-5. and in his start at the New
ark A. c. games, where he had lots of
competition. he was clocked in 4:22 3-5.
Higgins hsS been trajninp for +uo
months exclusively at one mile. He
has always been consistent 4 :22 man
and ! would not be surprised if he did
conside derably better than this tonight.
Ray will undoubtedly have to Go under
4:20 to beat Higgins and if the latter
has an advantage of fifteen or twenty
yards, Columbia vii very likely retain
the relay title. 1t will be one of the
greatest races Of the indoor season, re-
gardless Of the result.