Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-02-03


would be different There the gre
would be assembled
Each city. and town in the land had
spent the Intervening months con-
Quoting tryouts in all the events in
Volved, and reports coming to Abo
told of a host of sensational young
sters. None of the names was ia
miliar to Paavo, and his only guide
In his preparation was the reported
records they had made, and without
doubt some of those reports were eX-
aggerations.
Selecting the event in which he
should compete furnished a real prob
lem. In the Sunday meets of the Abo
Urheiluliitto, Paavo had learned he
was equally capable over distances
ranging from 1000 to 5000 meters,
which in Finland are classified as the
middle distances. He rather favored
the 1,500-meter run, and left to him
self he probably would have entered
for that event. But Abo athletic Of
ficials were DESTROYS that their munci-
pality make the strongest showing
possible in the championships. and
the fact they had a fair l.500-meter
man led to request that Paavo COM
pete in the 3.000-meter test.
Displayed Engerness Then.
Those who have been impressed by
the impassiyenesS of Nurmi'S features
as he whirls to world record after
world record to the thunderous ac-
claim of American track crowds
would not have recognized the IL
year-old Paavo who journeyed from
Abo to Helsingfors in 1914. He
bristled with eagerness. His face
flushed with the excitement of the
adventure. He laughed easily and
talked-always of the coming race
with who Hctan
was TO be the biggest event in his
life, and boy of II. no matter how
stolfd and unresponsive his nature.
becomes very much a normal young
ster under such conditions.
The trip seemed endlessly long to
Paavo and the time for starting the
event dallied on the way. Up to the
time of the 3,000-meter run Abo's rep
resentatives had not Jared so well as
expected. No gay banners proclaim
ing them as Junior champions had
been won. And Paavo had watched
each race with a longing to take the
place of a foundering fellow towns
man and carry the Abo insignia to
victory
Stronger than ever became his de-
termination to bring victory to Abo
In the 3.oo0-neter run. Again and
again he went over the reported
marks Of his rivals. The 5000 me-
o.
and the leading entries all had trav-
eled the course in 10 minutes or bet
ter. according to Paavo's informa-
tlon. That meant that he must COM
plete the race well under even min
utes.
Decides on an Even Pace.
He looked over the pack that re-
ported to the starting mark, paying
particular attention to the two Hell
singfors representatives who were
regarded as rival favorites for the
title. He specialized on their plans
for covering the course; whether they
would jump with the gun with plan
to run their rivals into the ground In
the first thousand yards, or would con-
tent themselves in following pace
set by others and save energy for a
final sprint He decided he would
strive to maintain a fairly even pace
throughout, and allow them to do as
they chose.
At the bark of the gun Paavo was
in front and churning along with that
ground-consuming stride which he
has since developed into what Is held
to be perfection in foot-racing form.
1t was not perfect thing at that
time, but It did show many of its
present characteristics.
Paavo continued to lead for 700 or
500 meters. Then one Of his. Hell
singfors rivals challenged. That
challenge would have found most
runners striving to increase their
pace. endeavoring desperately to hold
the leading position. But Paavo re-
manned unfiurried. The race had
long way TO go and the challenging
one, who had moved into the van,
now could be studied by the Abo
STRIPPING. Other rivals passed Paavo
not many of them, for he was main
tanning a fast clip. He studied them
also, estimating how long they could
continue at the pace, whether in back
of 1t they had a sprint which could
outmatch his when the final surge
began.
Sprints to Front Again.
That last was difficult to gauge, and
at the 2,000-meter mark Nurmi de-
cided to do little challenging on his
own account. He increased the beat
of his slim limbs; swept past one,
then another and still another until
once more he was out in front.
That effort seemed to cost him little
in energy, and the finish mark was
drawing nearer and nearer, so he
continued the faster clip. He could
hear his rivals painting at his Shout
der, as first one and then another
strove to keep up the pace, but with
400 meters TO go no such sound came
to his ears, and when he opened up
with the sprint which carried him
past the officials stand there was
none to challenge him.
The worsted caught upon his
swinging elbow Ado rooters
shouted his name, and Paavo Nurmi
had scored his first important victory.
With that victory came his first i'm
portant record, for the checkers
caught him in 9 minutes and 40 Sec
onds, which was several seconds bet
ter than Finlands Junior mark for
the 3,000-meter run.
Copyright, 1925, in United States, Canada
and Great Britain by North American News
paper Alliance. Copyright (Sew York WORLD,
Press Publishing Co. All rights reserved)
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