Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-07
u. S. Must Find
New Talent for
Olympic Games
United States Track and Field
Supremacy Threatened
Unless New Stars Are
Produced.
By WALTER EcxERsALL.

With the outdoor track and field
season officially opened by the stag.
ing OF the Drake and Penn relay
games yesterday. athletes will now
be pointed to the many iniersehoias'
ties. and dual meets on the sprinS
schedule.
The eastern intercollegiate viii be
held on the last Saturday IN May.
while the western conference will be
decided on the first Saturday IN
June. During next month nearly
every university and college OF ath-
letie importance will conduct All IN.
tefsehoiastie foy the beneh, OF the
prep school athletes in the different
sections.
As the mex, Olympic games are
only two years away. there must be
some new timber developed II the
United States is 10 maintain its track
and field supremacy. Some mem
bers Of the American team who
helped 10 win the worlds title az
Antwerp, Belgium, IN 1920. have set
aside the spiked shoes. They were
consistent point winners and the
type who could perform under any
conditions.
Athletes Must Be Developed.
Athletes must be developed to
take their places. and the prep
schools arc the places 10 find them.
Each year is productive OF its quo
Ia Of promising material and upon
the development OF these boys will
greatly determine Americas chances
in the next Olympiad at Paris in
1924.
A two-sport rule will be adopted
in the western conference at the
faculty meeting in June at Iowa
City, Need Of this rule has been
emphasized several times when men
have overtaxed their limits OF cndur-
ancc. and instead OF athletics being
helpful they have proven a detri-
mcnt. Men in college are moro ma
turcd and stronger than those in the
high and preparatory schools.
II it is necessary to apply two
sport rule to college athletes It is
doubly essential in the prep schools.
Promising athletes have been
burned OUT in prep school because
they have been permitted to take
part in too many sports or competed
il, too many events on the same day
in track meet.
Encourage Prep Stars.
If reliable point winners are to be
developed for the American Olympic
team of 1924, something should be
done with the prep stars who show
promise in next months meets. Such
athletes should be made to specialize
in whichever events they show most
promise. A sprinter should be kept
out Of field events and a distance
runner permitted to run only one
race in one day.
This rule does not apply so much
to the weight men. A shot putter
may take but one trial il he elects.
The same is true of the hammer and
discus. A track man must report for
his preliminary and semi-6nal heats,
and he cannot do himself justice if
he competes in field events. The sue
cessful college athlete is generally
the one who specializes in one event
in prep school and then permits the
university or college coach to teach
him the finer points of his chosen line.
of athletic endeavor.
Some athletes are made in college.
They have possessed natural ability
to do things, but never received the
proper encouragement in prep school.
There are types of this kind OF ath.
lete in college at the present time,
but it is doubtful if they will be avail
able for the American Olympic team.
Team Must Have Balance.
Those who have been behind move
ments which resulted in former
American teams are we'll aware of
Olympic games are we'll aware Of
the dearth of promising material.
There arc, of course, some men who
will be available, but to win honors
in an Olympic, meet team must have
balance and be composed Of enough
men so that at least three can enter
each contest.
University and college athletes
who win their specialties in the va
rious intercollegiatcs will undoubted-
ly join athletic clubs following grad
uation in order to get more competi-
ton for the final tryouts for the
Olympic team. 1t is trip
worth while, and the average college
athlete who is good enough to win
his event in the intercollegiates will
not overlook an opportunity to try
for the Olympic team.
From now on it will be interesting
to note and compare the per-
formances of various athletes who
will be candidates for the American
team.