Evening star., 1925-02-11

He danced along its hard-packed
cinders. tested his time twice day,
and established in his mind the
points along the route where ne
would check his pace with the stop
watch he was to carry. He found the
track far superior to those in FINLAND
Stockholm awaited the day fretfui-
" Its people were confident their
adopted fellow citizen, Wide, would
take the measure of Nurmi. They be-
sieeed the group of Firms who had ac-
compafiied Paavo with offers to wager
on the race and Paavos friends ac-
commodated them. And when the great
day arrived the stadium was packed
A noisy throng it was. But absolute
silence reigned IS the two great foot
racers were called to the mark Tor
their instructions.
Paavo Plans Strategy.
Paavo had mapped out a dehnite
program for the early portion OF the
| race, but had decided to let condi-
tion govern the later stages. HIS
plan. called for fast 400 meters at
tho start and only a slight letting up
In the second 400. What Wides plan
was Paavo did not know.
Paavo admits he was somewhat
nervous as he crouched on the start
ing mark. Never before had he seen
| such a throng and the majority desir-
ed his defeat He was the standard
bearer of his nation. All Finland look
ed to him. Then too, Wide in all prob
abilities would be Sweden's repre-
sentative in the Colombes Olympic
| games, less than year away, and
victory over him in the matched race
could not but have its effect in as
surfing other triumphs when they met
in the Olympics.
But Paavo had little time to ponder
these items as he stepped to the line
and found solid and unyielding pur-
chase for his spiked running shoes.
Then the pistol barked.
A roar came from Swedish throats
as Paavo and Wide leaped from the
mark, for Wide had jumped with the
gun and was out in front with the
first stride.
Wide Sets Terrific Pace.
The speed Paavo had set for the first
lap OF the race was fast, but 1t was not
nearly so fast as the race Wide was
travelling and the Swedish rooters were
in ecstacies as their compatriot added
inch by inch to his advantage until he
was leading the Finn by yards as the
first circling of the track was completed.
But Paavo, who had studied Wide's
work was convinced the latter could not
continue throughout the full course the
pace he then was setting. In the par
lance of track athletics, Paavo knew
Wide must come back to him.
And the second lap scarcely had be-
gun before Nurmi started closing the
gap That lap was not completed be-
fore Paavo was in the van and edging
away
Wide did not lose heart He sum-
moned his energy, pulled up to within
- - <hA 1o IN
shoulder during the third lap. 1t was
hard work for him. Still he fought on,
hoping for break in Paavo's pace.
He thought that chance was at hand
at the start of the fourth lap and un-
loosed what he believed would be q win
ming burst of speed. But Paavo sensed
the challenge and answered it as it was
issued. AS he answered it they flashed
: by the 1,50o-meter mark to the clicking
Of six stop-wa tches, and before Paavo
concluded his answer the mile mark had
been cleared. with Nurmi a good
yards in the lead. and the little Finnish
contingent acting like a group of mad
men in the stadium stands.
Two Records at Once.
But the thrill of the thing did not
end with the victory. An excited con-
ference was going on among the off,
cisI timers, and the monster gallery
held its seats. When this conference
ended, the announcer stepped to the
center of the arena. raised his mega
phone and informed the throng that
the world records had been shattered
both at the 1900 meter mark and the
mile.
Paavo's time for the former was 3
minutes and 53 seconds, nearly sec
onds faster than ]. Zander's record
made in 1917. Paavo's time for a mile
was minutes and 10 2-5 seconds, a
mark more than seconds faster
: than Norman Taber's supposedly .un-
beatable record, made in 1916.
Copyright. 1925, la United States, Canada
and Great Britain by North American News
paper Alliance Copyright tNew York World1
Press Publishing Co. All rights reserved)