Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-27
Much Promise By
American Runners
In Olympic Marathon

New York, May 2b--(A. f.J-<AIileA
icas hopes in the marathon. classic
distance feature of the 1924 Olympic
games at Paris in July, will be high
er than at any time since the spec
tacular triumph of Johnny Hayes 10
years ago at London.
That year, 1908, Hayes was victor
ious after Dorando, great Italian run.
ner, collapsed when within sight OF
the finish. Over Jealous officials
helped Dorando across the line, but
he was disqualified and Hayes, the
next finisher, was awarded first
prize.
One other American victory shows
on the records of the seven Olympic
marathons held since 1896. That was
in 1904. at ST Louis, when Hicks
breasted the tape first in the long
grind.
Since 1908, however. no American
has finished better than third. al
though the wearers of the Stars and
Stripes, as a whole. made formida-
BILE showing at Stockholm in 1917.
In that race. CASTOR Strobino took
third place, behind Macarthur and
Gitsam, the South Africans, while
six other Yankee runners were in the
first IL finishers.
This year the United States will
send its six best long distance men to
the start with particular confidence
placed in Clarence IL. DeMar. as
year-old Melrose. Mass, athletic
marvel who established his right to
lead the Yankee squad when he won
the Boston marathon, final Olympic
tryout, for the fourth time, SCATTERING
the American record and lettering
the Olympic record for the distance
of &c miles. SS5 yards.
DeMar's time for this race was 2
hours, % minutes, 40 is seconds,
only a second slower than the recog-
nized worlds marathon record hung
up by Willie Kolehmainen of Newark,
n. j., in 1912. Willie's brother.
Hannes, won the Olympic marathon
for Finland at Antwerp four years
ago and set a new standard for the
games of 2.32.35 AS.
DeMar is a marathoner of the type
of Tom Longboat. famous Canadian
Indian. He is long. lean and appar-.
'entless tireless. He holds his arms
exceptionally high. and derives very
little power from their swinging.
His legs are slim, but well muscled
at the calves and back of the thigh.
Seldom during race does he change
his pace. regardless of whether he is
going up or down grade. DeMar fin
ished twelfth at Stockholm in his
only Olympic marathon appearance.
While chief hopes probably will be
pinned on the Melrose star, Uncle
Sam has two other brilliant runners
in Charles l.. Mellor, of Chicago. and
Frank E. Vending, of Buffalo. a
newcomer to marathon ranks. They
finished second and third rcspec-
IL. k,.xy@
J. Churchill. of San Francisco and
Carl Linder. of Boston. also are
members Of the team, while the sixth
man will be chosen from Frank Zuna
of Newark, N. j., and Ralph Williams
of Quincy, Mass.
Zuna, who won this years Balti-
more and Detroit marathons, was re-
garded as the best OF the pack until
he dropped out of the Boston race
because of stomach trouble. If he re-
turns to form by the time Of the
Olympic event he will be strongly
favored.
Chief among the rivals OF the
American runners will be koleh-
mainen, who will attempt to make
Olympic history by repeating his
1920 triumph.
Winners Of the Olympic marathon
since 1896 and their times follow:
Year Place Winner Time
1895 Athens, Loues, Greece
2:55:20
1900 Paris. Teato. France 5:59:0O
1904 st. Louis. Hicks. U. 8. A.
3:2S:53
1905 Athens. sherring, Canada
2:5l:233-5
1908 London. Hayes, U. s. A.
2:55:1S4-5
1912 Stockholm, Macarthur. S. AZ
2:36:544-5
1920 Antwerp, Kolehmainen,
Fin 0.a1.agA