Great Falls tribune., 1922-02-26
AMERICAN RUNNERS
BENT ON WINNING
MARATHON EVENT
Long Distance Racing Has Not
Been Sufficiently Encour-
aged in the Past.

New York, Feb. 25.-There is a
growing determination on the part of
long distance American runners to win
the next Marathon event in the Olym-
pie games at Paris in 1924. Americans
are not prepared to admit that they
have less stamina than Firms, Esthon-
ians. Swedes, Italians and others who
have been doing SO well at the long
distance game.
1t has been pointed out, however.
that Marathon running has not been
! encouraged in this country in recent
years. as it has in the past. Not only
are there not enough races at the full
distance and at properly graduated dis
tances. but these races are not prop
erly placed on the years program so
as to insure giving every asplrant
chance under careful supervision.
Entrants Not Restricted
Another matter that has troubled
those who even now are ready to pre-
pare for the Paris event is the fact
that at present the American long
distance races are not restricted to
bona fide American citizens. 1t is of
no help to the game In this country to
have the important American Mara
thons won by foreigners who will be
unable to represent this country in the
Olympic games. There is definite
movement under way, therefore, to
limit these races to American citizens.
In the last Olympic American run
ners were compelled to compete against
foreigners who had already defeated
them in races on this side, of the water;
The effect of this on the morale of
the runners was unmistakable. They
might have had more confidence in
their own ability had they been meet
ing strange runners only. no matter
how good AS it was, the Americans
made an enviable record and had the
event been team affair there would
have been a great deal more credit
coming to this country.
Poor Mans Game
Marathon running in this country is
almost exclusively poor mans game.
Men who work in industrial plants dur
ing the day get out and put in an
amount of work at night that would
stagger the gamest collegian. They like
to run in important races. in a lot
of them, and to win first class prizes.
They like to feel that those who are
charged with building up an American
Olympic team are watching them close
ly and are keenly interested in their
work
The A. A. e. is already in posses
sion of plan for building up Amerl--
can Marathon runners in the course OF
the next two years that embodies many
excellent suggestions. 1t may be that
the plan will not be found feasible in
its entirety. but as it stands it is
well worth serious consideration, for
it has been pat together largely BY
Mike Ryan, who had charge of the
Marathon runners on the last trip, and
who had under his command a little
body of hard workers who did better
work when the real test came than
anybody had expected of them.
May Make Relay Record
Though the Pennsylvania relay car
nival is more than two months off,
there is every indication that a new
two-mile relay record will be made at
those famous games. The indoor sea-
son has already shown that four teams
will nave a fair chance to break this
record. made by Yale in 1916. with
their create distance runner, Overton,
killed at Chateau-Thierry, running as
anchor man, the time being minutes
50 seconds 1t is quite possible that
the combined record of Oxford-Cam-
bridge at minutes 80 % seconds may
be displaced
The four teams that loom up as pos
sible record makers are Yale. last
years winners. in Z minutes, 53 As
seconds; Penn State, Pennsylvania and
Iowa State college, of Ames, Iowa, has
three of her team back in VOTERS,
Webb and Higgins. Yale retains Hill
les. O'Brien and Campbell and has
another good half miller in Vanderpyl.
PENNSYLVANIA has three of her men back
in Brown. McMullen and George Mere
dith, with Holden or Head for fourth
runner.
Penn State is sure to be very fast,
as they have Helffrich. the American
half-mile champion. and Larry Shields,
both of whom have done better than
] minute 55 seconds for the distance