Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-01
FOREIGN TRACK AND
FIELD ATHLETES AT
MILLR0SE THIS WEEK

New York, Jan. 31.-(By The AS
ISOLATED Press) - Four European
track and field athletes, great in their
homeland, will face a select field of
Americans in the annual Millrose A.
A. games here next Thursday night.
Track observers say that too much
must not be expected from them.
American enthusiasts are inclined to
regard all invading European stars
as comparable to Paavo Nurmi of
Finland, but observers say it must
be remembered that Nurmi was the
outstanding athlete of the 1924
Olympics at Paris, winner of four
competitions, in three of which he
bettered the existing Olympic figures.
He proved himself a super-runner.
Victories in q world meet went
only part of the way toward DEM
onstrating the exceptional ability of
peerless Paavo. Last winter he
came to the United States. in a few
short weeks accustomed himself to
American boards and methods of
running, and he won all but three of
the numerous events he entered.
Hubert Houben of Germany, first
of the 1926 invaders to enter indoor
competition here. won a heat of the
4O-yard dash in Boston last night but
In the finals he was left behind. Hou-
ben is not an Olympic champion.
for his country was not welcomed
at the Olympic games of 1924, but he
gained prestige by defeating Charley
Paddock and Loren Murchison when
the Americans were engaged in a
tnl1r nf tho Tt,io
worthy of an Olympic performer.
Houben will be among the starters
in the Millrose games Thursday at
Madison Square Garden and the 9TH
er foreigners will be Adrian Paulen
of Holland, middle distance man;
Gordon Goodwin, Great, Britain's
greatest walker, and Charley Hoff,
the pole vaulting record holder from
Norway.
Hof, who for some weeks has
been training at Dartmouth College,
Is expected to prove the bright star
OF the foreign constellation, Ameri-
cans who have seen him in practice
at Hanover predict that he will do
IA feet with the pole eventually, to
improve upon his own world mark.
This youngster, however, does not
confine himself to the vault. He is
a capable middle distance runner
and in the Olympic 400 metres placed
second in two trial heats.
In the Millrose program Hoff will
vault against Ed Knourek, of the
Illinois A. c.. Emerson Norton Of
Georgetown, Fred Sturdy of Yale
and others and in a 600 yard run
will meet Paulen. Alan Helffrich.
John (Soapy) Waters of Harvard
and Johnny Gibson of Fordham. He
also Will appear on a foreign relay
team.
Houben again will encounter the
man he defeated overseas, Loren
Murchison, along with Dehart Hub
bard and Frank Hussey. sprints of
~ and 6O yards having been arrang-
ed for the stars.
Goodwin placed second to Ugo
Frigerio of Italy in the 10000 metres
walk at the Olympics, but Willie
Plant, American champion. did NOT
participate in the games. Frigerio
was beaten several times by Plant
IN the United States last winter.
therefore, Goodwin's task appears
to be almost hopeless despite the
fact that Plant is recovering from q
foot injury received in training.
Paulen is due in New York
wednesday. so will have little time
Tor preparation. He won heats in
the 4OO and 800 metres events at the
Olympics and in the 500 defeated
Soapy Waters. who is entered for
the special 300 yard event Thursday.
The Millrose expects to produce
full two dozen Olympic performers
In the meet this year and has offered
q trophy to the athlete producing
the best all-around performances.