New Britain herald., 1925-03-17
N. '. REFUSES ID
 DISBAR RUNNER
Thus, Nurmi Is Expected. to
 Race Tonight

New York, March 17.-PaGvo Nur- mi, Finnish runner will not be sus- pended by the Metropolitan associa- ton of the amateur athletic union for his failure 10 appear at meet in Hartford. Conn, Saturday, the as sociation announces.
 Nurmi's case was brought to tho attention Of the New York body by l Connecticut officials yesterday lm- mcdiately Chairman stephen A. 1 Byrno investigated. A certificate signed by Dr. Herman Rohcrgh, stating that the athlete had been ill sincc Friday and on Saturday suf- i fcrcd from high fever, was pro- duced
 1 Moreover, the Investigation dis 1 closed that Nurmi's entry for the Hartford meet was made on tho back Of ap ordinary business card and not on the official blanks Of the A. 4. |.
 In view of the circumstances, Mir. Byrnc aaid. his committee ruled that no ius'idablc ground for tho FinnS sGspcnsion existed, and added that SD far as the New York association is concerned. he is eligible to particl- nate in tho Knights of Columbus meet at Madison Square Garden to- night.
 Nurmi. 1t was learned, is in the jurisdiction of the national commit tee. as he is competing on an inter national permit.
 The first event, 5000 metres, will find him starting at the side of the cXceptional Willie Ritola, native of Finland, but an adopted son of the IT. 'nited States At the Finnish American games, his first appearance in this country, .Nurmi defeated Ei- tola over the same ground that he
 will cover tonight, Willie has tho endurance. Paavo the endurance and the sprint, and Nurmis final dash in that first meeting gave him the vic
 tory and at the same time a new world record.
 Since that battle Eitola has kept much to himself, meeting opponents
 of lesser caibrc than tho Olympic
 champion, but running hard never , thcless. his enthusiasm carrying him
 10 more than a half score Of world marks. Seldom has he failed to lar , his field, and to the spectator novol has lei down. no matter what tho , orrosition. Tihs strict training i!
 expected 10 show RitoIa at his bes D after rest since Saturday night :, Two hours after the 5000 mctr' f conflict Nurml again will appear ID . on the track in what promises 70 bc . come one of the bitterest struggle : ever fought over American boards 4 Little Joie Ray, who held most O tho United States middle distanc : records until Nurmi camo. will at tempt 10 retrieve his lost honors i the mile. and by his side, nEhtin z the American fight, will he tho rc markablo Lloyd Hahn. native c , Nebraska, but a member Of tho Dos ; t6n Athletic association. : Both Ray and Hahn this wintc have broken thc record that stoo to the credit of Ray before the ir , vadcr came. The Chicagoan wer , under the world figures in his fir
 race against Paavo Nurmi at th T Garden in the America D games but his effort was of no avai D for the Olympic champion had sre !. away on reaching tho last quartc | lap.
 Nurmi's mark for the distance, ; p yet unaccepted. is four minutes, U seconds, established in a race
 Buffalo. Neither Ray nor Hal
 have reached such figures but tn,
 are primed for last desperate e
 fort in their opportunity tonigf
 Soon Nurmi will sail away after ol by or two races on the cinder patf ht perhaps
 ID In his first doublc-race nigl US Nurmi met Ray at mile. inst n- minutes before he faced Eiiola th the 5000 metre distance, and cd
 Continued On the Following Psg