Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-14
Finn Wins Marathan

Although the Americans III con-
vincing and final demonstration of
their all-round supremacy today
shattered two more world and one
olympic record, the premier mantle
of olympic triumph went to the
new Finnish hero, Albcn Stenroos,
who raced under another blazing sun
to the classic marathon champion
ship, a victory which capped the
climax to Finland's clean sweep of
the distance races and gave the
little Nordic country the greatest
laurels 1t has ever known.
Stenroos. q 40 year old Helsingfors
woodwOrker. running his first COM
petitive marathon race in fifteen
years. sped over the twenty-siX
miles of country road to one of the
most impressive victories in the
history of the blue ribbon event. He
crossed the finish line inside the
stadium amid n deafening ovation, in
2 hours, AZ minutes, 22 3-5 seconds,
nearly six minutes in front of his
nearest rival, Bertini, of Italy, with
Clarence Demar, Melrose, Mass, the
American veteran. finishing a close
third, to send the Stars and Stripes
up to the olympic masthead for the
marathon for the first time since
1912.
But remarkable as was Stenroos'
triumph in the worlds greatest test
Of heart and stamina, the highest
honor of all in the final analysis
must be bestowed upon his coun-
tryman, Paavo Nurmi. who COM
pleted phenomenal record today,
when. leading his team to victory
IN the 5000 metre race. he won his
fourth triumph of the games.
NUM-, fiawless running machine
whose marvellous achievement in
capturing four olympic events equals
the record set by the American
Kraenzlein "a years ago. but stands
alone In comparison with any ac-
complishment since that time, was
the handspring Of the courageous but
vain fight Finland put up to out
score the United States. The little
northern country gave America one
or the closest battles it has ever had.
virtually with two-man team. Re-
capitulation shows that practically
half the teams points were scored b.
Nurmi and Willie Ritola, an Ameri-
can running product, who establish
cd the olympic Iron man" record by
competing on all eight days and
breaking two records while racing
a total OF $4,000 metres. equivalent
to the marathon distance.
Taking the three final days events
IN cord-breaking fashion, the
united states ran its final point to-
TAI TO 265, as compared with Fin
laho 3 LOO, and also gained the covet-
margin n AVct 81.
The American relay team showed
astonishing speed In capturing both
the 400 and 1000 metre events in
worlds record time. while "Bud,'
Hauser. the husky California COL
legian, broke the olympic record in
winning the discus throw. adding his
name to those of Osborne, America
and Ritola, Finland, as the only
double victors to share a portion Of
Nurmi's glory. u
another worlds record also went to
America, when the announcement
was made today that Harold Osborne
had won first place in the decatblon
with an unprecedented point score of
7,710 and fraction.
DE Mar. Americas chief hope in the
race. ran strongly all the way. but
over the last half of the Journey he
could not match pace with his Finnish
rival and also fell slightly behind Ber-
TIM. De Mar kept well toward the
front. leading briefly at one stage over
the hrst half Of the grind. but. ike
most OF the others. fell back in the
final half.
Charles MelIor. Chicago, caused sur
prise by his excellent running for near
~ two-thirds Of the way, but he tired
In the closing stages and finished 9th.
Frank vending. the Buffalo youth.
who was expected ia prove a strong
contender. never was up with the Lead
ers, but he stuck out the pace. finishing
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