Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-07
FINLAND REGISTERS
COMMANDING LEAD
IN OIL MPIC EVENTS

Colombes Stadium. July s-(By A.
Po-Raeing over muddy track to a
worlds record and athletic glory that
will go down among the greatest of all
times. Willie Ritola, sturdy. lean
limbed Finnish product Of Americas
running school. today brought the
opening competition of the 1924 Olym-
pice track and field championships to
a climax with a sensational triumph
in the 1o,000-metre run.
Before wildly cheering throng of
10000, Ritola, fairly flying over a
track that had been deluged by a
downpour just few minutes before
the race, scored a smashing victory
that gave his native country, Finland.
a sure and certain start towards its
bid for the Olympic crown in what
row Seems certain to be battle with
the United States.
Ritola's spectacular victory gave
Finland clean sweep in the n.st days
finals, for in the javelin throw, the
only other event which was concluded,
jennie Myrra, the veteran Olympic
champion, successfully defended the
spear-tossing title by conouering the
Americans and Swedes. his only real
competitors.
These two first places, together with
fourth place by Egvist in the javelin,
and third and fourth places in the
10,000-metres by Berg and Sipila, the
other Finnish distance stars, counted
up for the little Scandinavian nation
total of 80 points-a commanding
lead over its nearest rival, Sweden,
which gathered in IL points. The
United States, due to the Unexpectedly
good showing of it's javelin throwers,
E. 0berst, Notre Dame. and William
Neufeldt. University OF California,
who were third and fifth respectively,
holds third place with six points.
Ritolas marvellous victory was the
climax of the day, in which the Ameri-
cans showed best in the trials. qualify
ing four men each for the semi-finals
in the 100-metre dash and S00-metre
run, and three each in the high jump
and 400-metre hurdles.
Ritoia covered the distance in 80
minutes % Is seconds, beating his own
worlds record mark by IL is seconds,
made a fe wweeks ago.
All four American starters were
Tapped by Ritola. the first American
to finish being Verne II. Booth, Johns
Hopkins University, who was far in
the rear, lap and quarter behind the
winner.
Myrra's winning throw of the jave-
lin was 1896 metres, equivalent TO
nearly 207 feet. Finland, however,
failed in it's expected cleanup, land
ing but one other place-fourth.
The formidable forces of the United
States today built a groundwork for
prospective triumphs in events in which
he elimination trials only We're con-
Quoted this afternoon. The Americans
qualified in all but two entries in the
trials Of four contests and are there
fore in good position for further hon.
ors. The finals in the 100 metres. 400
metres hurdles and running high jump
will be held tomorrow and the semi
finals of the 600-metre run.
Americas total OF IA men qualify
ing in these preliminaries SURPRISES
the showing of any of it's rivals. Great
Britain and France being next with
seven each. While Canada has four and
Finland only two.
The only Americans failing to sur
vive these qualifying tests were r. l.,
Juday, high jumper, who was elemi-
mated when he failed to clear six feet
in the competition, which required a
height of 1888 metres. or feet l inch,
and c. f. Coulter, who finished fourth
just outside the last qualifying place
in the second semi-hnaI heat of the
400 metres hurdles.