New Britain herald., 1925-02-05
RAY CHALLENGES NURlM TO
 MEET HZlW LN THE MILE RUN
Wants to Meet Finn Satur' day Night, Claiming
 That He Will Surprise World With His Showing
New York, Feb. 5.-Paavo Nurml,

New York, Feb. 5.--Paavo Nurmi, whose conqucsts have startled the track world, has been challenged.
 Joe Ray, with his back to the wall, his name, which was written opposite many a record before the advent of the marvellous Finn, all most erased from the books. Yet once more the little Chicagoan offers to fight for the return of q portion of his hard won laures. He would regain the mile record.
 The challenge to Nurmi came in the form of letter to Chairman Hugh Hirshon Of the Wllco A. C. meet scheduled for Saturday night and carried Rays withdrawal from the special 3000-meter event, in which the Olympic champion had promised to eclipse the last marks owned by Ray. For the first time in his career The blond tlier urged that he be permitted to name condi- tions for q race.
 Nurmi has planned every step of that 30NO-metre race Saturday and undoubtedly will refuse to meet Rays demands at this time, accord ing to officials of the Wilco club which means that Eddie Kirby Of Cornell will be the only man to wor- ry the marvel from Europe. Kirby will he running indoors for the first time this winter.
 Rays letter follows:
 After due consideration, I have decided to ask you to withdraw my entry from your combined 3o00- meter and two-mie race. l am ask ing this, being not unmindful of the fact that in this way I lose the op- portunity of meeting Paayo Nurml in q race at your games.
 NY decision in this connection is two-fold. Firstly, I have been train ing for some time for the mile dis tance, and l believe that I can safely say that I am now running the mile faster than I ever have in my entire career. For this reason, l am of the opinion that in your combined 1,5OO- meter and one-mile race next Satrlr- day night, on d track such as the 18th regiment, that l can establish new worlds records for both the 1500-meter distance and the mile distance. By doing this, l hope 10 prove to the track fans of the United States, that at my own specialized distance l can run as fast or faster than Paavo Nurmi.
 My second reason for withdraw ing from this race has to do with the attitude of Paavo Nurmi in con- neetion with his various races. Ny record will show that for years and years I ran anybody at any distance from one-half mile up to three miles. I did not ask for special opponents, special conditions and special dis tances. I ran anybody, anywhere, any time and any distance in be- tween the aboveA two mentioned. think that Paayp Nurmi should do the same and think that the majority of track fans agree with me,
 Having trained specially for the one-mle distance, and being firmly convinced that my next performance at the Wilco games at this distance will result in new worlds figures, feel that when l next meet Paavo Nurmi l should have something to say about the conditions under which we meet. At the present time, the conditions arc that the race be at one mile. If Nurni is anxious to race me at my distance nothing would suit me better than to have him meet mc Saturday night"