The Washington times., 1924-01-16

by Johnny Overton, former Yale
IN the war;
~ Ever since Overton made that W
get upon bettering it. Graduate N
ham University, has arranged a S
ham University indoor athletic ca.
In this race, Joie Ray will meet
the best talent that can be sent
against him.
Ray is going to make his first
appearance of the indoor season at
the Silk A. A. meet tonight. He
will be a starter in the 1,5OO-meter
test. This is the distance at which
the Windy City star intends to race
Mt the Olympic games in Paris thia
summer.
Many think it more advisable for
Ray to pass up the 1,50O7meters
in favor of the 5,0OO-meters sprint.
However, at the present time Ray
has his heart set on starting in
the shorter race. He believes he
can beat the best that any of the
European countries can send against
him.
In the 1,5OO-meter event to-
night Ray will be asked to meet
such stars as Roy Hahn, Of BOs-
i tOn,a national Junior One-mile
champion; Willis Sullivan, of
Georgetown, former Metropolitan
mile titlehOlder; Jimmy Connolly,
intercollegiate One-mile champion;
William Goodman, Metropolitan
One-mile indoor titlehOIder, and
Mel Schaeffer, the latest find from
the knights Of st. Anthony.
The Silk A. A. race is being
eooked upon by Ray as warming
mp test for his attempt on the
worlds record on Saturday night.
The Windy City lad has put him
self through "a vigorous siege of
hard training for his present record
attempt. He has been in strict
training for more than two months
past.
Some of the trials that he has
hads in private have been better
than the record. Those who have
watched him work predict that
&fter he crosses the finish line on
&9dLu1udy d 4ACW 44d1A WALL OO O1A
II Ray s', is one of the most colorful
of present-day athletic stars. Short
and stocky, he has developed a
stride that few of his rivals have
ever been able to match. He has
the endurance Of a thoroughbred
race horse. What is more, he never
quits because a rival is in front of
him. He is never beaten until the
final inch of the distance is
covered.
=. Ray has won the One-miIe cham
piOnship no less than eight times,
o record that no other titlehOller
can boast of. The fact that he is
cunning for more than twelve years
has caused many to think that he
is burned out" by this time. Many
who are I'm charge of selecting the
next Olympic team have their
doubts as to whether or not Ray is
capable of beating the best that
we have in this country.
OF course, these individuals have
not witnessed Ray in any of his re-
cent trials. 1t is because of this
doubt that has been raised in the
minds of some that he is going to
attempt to create a new worlds rec.
ord on Saturday night. Such an
accomplishment would put to rest
any doubt as to who is the leading
miller in this country.
In the Fordham games Ray
will have to beat such star nilers
as Walter Higgins, formerly of
Columbia University; George Mar
eters, of Georgetown, said by
Southern officials to be the indi.
vidual most likely to make Joie
break the record; Pat Kennedy
O. local lad Of much promise
Willie Sullivan, of Georgetown, and
William Goodman, Of the New York
Athletic Club. If he can beat
this field in record time, there
are very few who will say that
Ray is not the athlete to rep
resent Uncle Sam in the Olympic
games.
: Ray is worlds record holder for
/. the one-and-one-half-m distance
His time of minutes 46 S-5 sec
Onds, made on January "a, 1917,
was one of the most noteworthy
races in the history of indoor
. track and field sports. 1t Is his
Intention of trying to better these
, figures at some meet later in
the season. At present he has
his mind set upon erasing the
sne-mile mark that Johnny Over
ton made on st. Patrick's Day
l9l7. If he can do this, his cur
Of cheer will be filled to over