New Britain herald., 1925-03-24

kOLEHMAINEN IS STILL A WIZARD.
Even Nurmi Has Not Eclipsed
 His Performances
By The Associated Press.

by Ine Assoelated PreSs.
 New York. March 24. - Twelve years separated the coming of the flying Films and therein the life of q sport era was defined.
 Little men out of the frozen north of Europe, source of' such as Sep pala, driver of the wonder dog, Bal to, and his mates. in the race against death into. Nome, flames Kolehmainen and Paavo Nurmi have come to America, the latter to prove the fitness of Films more than decade after the western hemisphere had been convinced by the Sother.I Y
 Nurmi has succeeded, yet those who have followed and deIyed into track performances since the begin ming of the century fail 10 grant him q. higher position than that attained by his wonderful countryman in his visit of 1912 and 1913. ,Nurmi has run two races in night to victories at a mile and at 5000 metres. kolehmainen ran seven miles in two IaSeS III SlHSle meet. 70 -.
 PaaFo has broken as many as four records in a single race, depending, of course, on the points at which he was timed. ,Kolehmainen smashed every standard American mark be- tween three and one-half' and ten miles in single race at Columbia university on November l, 1913.
 The hero of the present day is a sprinter as we'll as distance man and can make exceptional time at a half mile. His predecessor ran longer distances and seldom found the ne- cessity to sprint. It is said that kolehmainen once replied in answer to a question as to whether he thought himself able to sweep away the records of the great English man, Al Shrubb: T never have been driven to- it and now itis too late"
 flames made exceedingly good times for the mile during his regime, being rated at about APP. against the record now held jointly by Nur- mi and Joie Ray at 4:12 and in a three mile run was timed at the first milestone in 4:33.
 Nurmi has escaped the trials that followed Kolehmainen. On Septem- Der 1, 1912, news reporters found two men, immigrants apparently from their costume and their steer age quarters, seemingly hiding them- selves from prying eyes. They were flames and his brother, Willie, professional runner, come 10 Ameri- ca to ply their trade as masons which they had learned in their na- tive kuopio. They were held at Ellis Island for several hours.
 Then came Hannes' first race and his first defeat. at the hands of Wil- liam NJ. Powers who had been handi- capped at 290 yards. Kolehmainen, however. beat the mark of Al Shrubb. In his next appearance flames attacked George Bonhag's three mile record of 14:S2 and run to hollow victory in 14:4S 3-5.
 An application from the Finn for membership in the Irish-A American A. c. started an amateur war. and after year in this country, having apparently done nothing to earn his way the Amateur Athletic Union summoned him. The investigation fell flat. flames had his troubles with amateurism.
 Meanwhile his brother, Willie, clipped three minutes from the marathon record in a race at New ark, won Is mile event a week later and on November 8. 1912, es- tablished a world record for 12 miles.
 flames Kolehmainen was the star of his time, Nurmi of a modern era. Comparison is possible but indefinite, as they never will meet.