The New York herald., 1922-12-17
Joseph Conto, Thin italian
Youth, Sensation Of Fin
nish-American Race.
LEG MUSCLES SNARLED
Calf of Injured Limb Twice
It's Normal Size, Yet Helps
to Earn Victory.

Joseph Conto a thin, wiry chap OF
% years. one of Italy's battle SCARED
athletic war heroes, was the winner
of the seven and half mile road
race of the Finnish American Athletic
Club held yesterday over a course
which included territory in east and
west Harlem and south as far as
Fifty-ninth street. Conto earned the
premier honors of the event in cour-
ageous, soldierly fashion.
Coming like streak Of lightning in
the closing yards of the long journey.
Conto got up In time to snatch VIC
tory right at the end by. six inches
from Joseph Cain of the Mohawk
A. c.. who appeared the probable win
ner until the italian barrier started
his victorious effort. 1t was a spec
tacular finish. in which pluck and
for q time to be an almost hopeless
task, because when Conto started in
pursuit of Cain the latter had a lead
of more than a hundred yards. G.
Solomon of the knights of st. An
tony was third. The winners time
was Al minutes and % seconds.
Conto competed under handicap of
war wound which made his per-
formance of more than ordinary merit.
The wound was sustained on the Aus
train front at Montello, July %. 1918. A
bullet lodged in his right leg The bull
let was removed, but the operation was
done so hurriedly on the battlefield
that the muscles of the leg are badly
snarled and the calf swollen to twice
it's normal size. 1t has been source
OF much pain to the Italian soldier.
But in spite of that handicap. Conto
has managed to continue his athletic
activities in modified way since his
arrival in this country nine months ago,
when he became member OF the Pas
time Athletic Club Of The Bronx.
Yesterdays effort, however. was the
best ever registered by him in a COM
petition since his arrival here. Before
the war he ranked high as a harrier
in Italy. He showed the best perform
ance of his career over hill and dale
when he finished in third position in an
Italian cross-country championship race.
Fifty Men I'm Race.
Fifty men competed in yesterdays
event. And all save seven completed
the full journey The competitors had
much to contend against. Portions OF
seventh avenue In the Harlem section
were slippery from melting snow and
rain and many of them found 1t difficult
10 maintain their equilibrium. At 125th
street and Fifty-ninth street and Cen
tral Park West heavy traffic inter-
fered considerably with their move
ments. Good luck alone prevented ac-
cidents In avoiding recklessly driven
automobiles. Johnny Bell of the
knights of st. Antony and Mike
Dwyer of the Mohawk A. G. slipped.
but escaped with severe shaking up.
The pace throughout the race, not
withstanding adverse conditions on foot.
wac pretty fast. Axel Hakans of the
Finnish American A c. and ]. Binninger
Of the Glencoe A. c., who each had the
limit allowance OF eight minutes. were
the early pacemakers and weaved their
ways through the maze of traffic at
lZDYn street 50 tnaL lney mum
aged to step along in front until 116th
street was reached. where they began TO
fall back. Shortly beyond that point
Emery Feher of the Glencoe A. c.
stepped to the front and showed the way
10 the pack for mile. Here Charles
Salomon of the Knights OF St. Antony
and Frank Mino. a club mate. dashed
to the front and stayed there until Fifty
ninth street and Fifth avenue was
reached. Here Cain went into the lead.
followed by Conto. They raced In that
order 20 Ninety-first street Here Conto
was passed by Charles Solomon. who
had made another attempt to gain the
position of honor. There was no change
in the position of the leaders until the
final mile. when Conto began his burst
~ speed which steadily gained him
ground and eventually the victory in
thrilling and spectacular fashion.
William Ritola. holder Of national
cross-country and long distance running
titles on the cinderpath. and the scratch
man was the only one of the back men
who was able to make a good showing.
lie overcame all Disadvantages OF foot
ing and traffic conditions and captured
the Pastime prize. He finished In
twsnty-third position. and was clocked
"a the fast time Of A minutes and 2e
seconds.
The summaries;
Actual
Position, Name and Club. H'cap Thine