Evening star., 1925-02-23

Two things which are playing a
& big part in the development of basket t
ball and track in the South are the
8basket ball tournament at Atlanta
S ZACH year for the championship of
II the South and the championship track
y and field games of the Southern Con-
ference. These two big events, the
first of which begins next Friday, are
drawing out the best in each branch
of sport and proving big incentive
10 develop the greatest possible pro-
fictency.
Take the basket ball tournament.
for instance. More teams than ever
are entering this Spring, and prac-
tically all big Southern Quints Will
be in competition for the champion
ship trophy Virginia and North
Carolina State are entering the tour
nament for the first time from this
end of the conference and from the
other end Louisiana State is 10 make
its first appearance.
Last year. the second of the con-
ference championship track and field
meet, found an increased number OF
teams in competition, and this Spring
undoubtedly will find many more. 1t
seems to be only a matter of another
year before every college in the con-
ference will take part in each of
these championship affairs. And it
Is just a desire to make the best pos
sible showing in events of this kind
that causes the development of good
y athletics. The basket ball tourna-
ment and track games have done
more to develop these two sports in
the South than any other influences.
The fact that no one team seems
able to run away with things is
splendid indication of the develop
ment in a sport There seems to be
very little difference in the strength
qf most of the basket ball teams,
and the time is passed, under the
present regulations in force in most
of the colleges, when any one col
lege is likely to have a monopoly
on athletic attainment. Which is fine
for the general welfare of athletics
and for each sport in particular.
With the 4eOrg~town indoor games
a part of the past, athletes are turn
ing their minds toward the competi-
tions tonight at the Johns Hopkins
5th Regiment games in Baltimore.
Athletes. like especially to compete in
the Baltimore games because they are
on what probably is the best indoor
track in the country. Faster time
can be made. and usually is made,
than is accomplished on the less IA
vorable courses.
The fact that the Baltimore track
lis exceptionally good brings to mind
the possibility that Paavo Nurmi
may make the fastest time in that
meet that he has yet accomplished
Certainly, if there is one place where
circumstances are favorable for him
to run in record breaking time, that
place is the 5th Regiment Armory in
Baltimore
Running on track s laps to the
mile is much easier than on a track
IL laps to the mile. There are longer
straightaways to stride out, and the
curves are much easier to take and
may be negotiated much faster,
which creates faster time for the
race.
Track and field meets this Winter
have been noticeably lacking in the
weld competition. out of the five meets
held in the South Atlantic section
this Winter. including the one to-
night, in only one has the shot-put
been scheduled That was held Sat
urday night in the Georgetown games.
The pole vault was held in the Vir-
ginia meet at Charlottesville, but no
where else. 1t seems that difficulties
so attendant upon running the field
events, lack of space, crowding of
contestants, etc, makes ii hard to
get them over in reasonable time.
1t seems n shame that with two
splendid relay teams as those that
represent Georgetown 1t Is so diff
ACult to find opponents for them. 1t
+ is a fact that other college quartets
have not shown a special disposition