The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-24
NlIR|VN HITS
PACE At
! LAST
Dogs Are Becoming Used to
indoor Track and He
Awaits Joie Ray
BY DAVIS J. WALSH,
International News Service,

NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-Con-
siderably encouraged by his re-
cent discovery, that American in
door tracks were not created for
the purpose Of presenting spawned
shanks to visiting foreigners,
PaAvo Nurmi stated today that he
expected to break the worlds in
door record for the mile on the
evening Of January 8, hsi first
competitive appearance in this
country.
The great Finn makes only one
stipulation, to wit: That when the
big moment arrives, Joie w. Ray
be as good as he claims himself
to be.
Joie has let It be known that he
is back in the form that made him
unbeatable indoors several years ago.
He is alleged to have intimated that
ne might even go 30 far as to Best
Nurmi in the latter's first race on
an American track. The Finn has
not deemed it necessary to state
that he will defeat Ray: he merely
announces that he will clip an odd
second or so, the rest Of It beink
taken for granted. The pair Of then:
seem to have a sort of friendly feel
ing toward themselves.
NurMi's prediction was aired
following . series Of time trials
IN Quaftor.Nile spurtS on q local
INDOOR track. These must have
been enlinently satisfactory for
they appear to have dissipated the
Films dissatisfaction with indoor
running. Less than two weeks ago
ne promoted Segni-panic at the
Ftnntsh.AmeriCan A. c., by init
mating that he might return home
on the first steamer.
Additional confirmation Of Nurmi's
condition and consequently his
change OF attitude, is contained in
the statement Of q veteran athletic
follower who declared today that
Nurmi had run the fastest two
miles he had ever witnessed in a
trial at the 25Sth Field Artillery
Armory In. the Bronx. This man
saw sRay do eos rs, the fastest
time ever made by human feet.
Just what Nurmi did in his trial
Is q deep, dark mystery Of the kind
featuring the unexplained presence
OF the lady's lip stick in the muir.
dered mans shaving mug. Not 50
much as an incautious whisper has
Deen aired on any OF Nurmi's trials
IN this country. This would seem
TO indicate that the young man is
stepping fast and the writer con
Vouch for the fact that when tiniS
condition prevails Nurmi couldn't be
beaten in swamp.
Ray. however, was counting On
Nurmi's unfamillarity with In.
dor tracks when he allowed that
It was entirely possible that he,
JOie, would win that first race.
But he frankly stated that there.
after the Finn, becoming ac.
customed to the boards would be
unbeatable.
The truth Of the matter is that
both Of them probably are running
90 their best and although he
couldn't beat the real Nurmi the
best day he ever lived, It is fact
and not fiction, that Ray was in
poor physical condition at the Paris
Olympics.
1t might be mentioned also that
neither Of them is given to loose
conversation. They have developed
an immoderate amount Of self af.
lection but rarely fail to make good
their claims. If Ray thinks he
might beat Nurmi, because Of the
latter's unfamiliarity with indoor
running, he will come uncomfort.
ably close to doing it. II Nurmi
says he will crack a record, they
might as well start printing a new
book right now, =