The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14


 rivals in every field of battle into which universities venture, Saturday after noon again were pitted against each other for highest honors in the B. A.. C.'s thirtieth annual road race. An Alabama man, Looney Smith, who has a long easy stride that eats up the miles like a flivver eats up blocks, finished well in front of large field, to, win the B. A. c. feature. As a result, there was a touch of Crimson to the afternoon when final honors were divided.
 But to Georgia must go the highest honors, for, as a team, the Red and Black runners simply ran away with everything in sight. Of the four trophies at stake, the Georgians carried back three with them when they returned home last night. That old Georgia bell, which tradition says tolls joyously with each Bulldog victory, must have jared its very foundations with its changing last night, for three championships were won in yesterdays competition,- the Southern Conference, Southeast ern A. A. U., and B. A. C., road race title. They were the three trophies the Georgians won.
 Tribute To Richter
 As the shouts of victory acclaim the prowess of the Georgians, and of that Mir. Smith, of Alabama, a tribute should be paid to the defeated champion, Els worth Richter. The lanky B. A. c. runner, four times a winner of the event, attempted a comeback Saturday, and for the major portion of the ardu- ous route seemed on his way to fifth victory. As the final stretch was reached, the last half mile straightaway to the tape, Rick dropped slowly back behind Looney Smith. The pace grew harder as the finish neared, and Rick was passed time after time, until he finally logged across the line ln sev- enth place, Richer is not through, he ran too good a race three-tourths of the way to be called that-but ne showed the damage two years from the course had done his ability.
 There is not much to tell of the race It was not of the sensational variety. The time of 16 minutes, 1-5 second was considered slow. The record IS 10 min utes. 27 seconds. There was nothing out of the ordinary to stamp the mara thon one of distinction. To the spec tators there was nothing to be seen but the sudden break with the starting gun. the preliminary punching of the runners, the gradual stringing out, the dogged battle of Richter, Smith, Hogan and Seibert, and the ultimate triumph of Smith. To the runners, there could not have been anything but the monot' onous slipping by of the curbstones, the relentless pounding of their feet upon the asphalt pavement.
 Hogan And Seibert
 
 of the B. A. C., the latter runner coming from Snead Seminary to run in the race. gave Richter and Smith hard run during the major portion of the event, and Hogan led for at least hali the way. Finally, as the turn to the final lap was reached, he was seized with a cramp in his right leg, and after stopping two or three times for mo ment's rest and gamely trying to con tinue the race, he was forced to dror out. Seibert, the high school lad, stuck to the finish, and finished fourth, di rectly behind Wilson, that Birming ham-Southern star.
 And here's a good place to say 6 word about Wilson. The lanky Panther harrier certainly showed good form Saturday. His showing, and his feat of finishing third over such a classy field stamp him as a runner of prom ise. Spectators were freely predicting that the Birmingham-South boy would win the race in his next year ol two.
 In the final counting up, it was found that Georgia won three trophies, witt Georgia Tech, close second in eacl event. Georgia now has one leg or the News trophy, while Tech and A and M., each have two.
 Nose Out Panthers
 Mississippi college beat Birmingham Southern out by scant margin in tn, race for the s. I. A. A. championship