Evening star., 1926-03-31

It was rather remarkable that Con-
molly defeated Ray the first time he
ran against him, but never was able
to do so thereafter. On June 3, 1919,
the Spring he graduated from high
school, Connolly defeated Ray in a
great mile race in the fastest time
ever made by high school runner
minutes 10 1-5 seconds. The next
time Connolly met Ray the race was
in Canada and Ray won in just frac-
ton over minutes a second. Thirty
one times after that Ray beat Con.
molly and four times in national cham.
pionship events, thus keeping away
from Connolly a good deal of national
prominence. 1t is doubtful II that situ-
alton ever was duplicated.
Brilliant Performer.
Connolly has been consistent and
brilliant performer, but, strange to
say, he never had on a track shoe un-
til his senior year in high school. Yet,
despite that fact, he never was beaten
as a high school runner. Connolly
graduated from Woburn High School
of Massachusetts, in 1919 and entered
Georgetown that Fall. For four years
thereafter he represented the Blue and
Gray in relay races and in middle dis
tance and distance runs
At the end of his first year at
Georgetown Connolly made the United
States Olympic team and finished Sec
ond in the 800 meters at Antwerp.
the event won by Hill of England.
The next year Jimmy won the inter
collegiate mile for Georgetown in the
exceptional time of minutes 171-5
seconds. During his career at George.
town Connolly won many races and
won again in the fntercollegiates. He
broke the record for two-thirds of a
mile and still holds it, That was the
only record which Nurmi attempted to
shatter and failed
In all the races Connolly has run he
hardly ever got worse than third. And
right now Connolly is running as
well as he ever did. This year he
won what generally is considered the
biggest mile race of the year.. that in
the Millrose games, in just a fraction
over minutes II seconds. He went
to Boston the following Saturday
night and won the Hunter mile in al
most as good time. Connolly also has
run as a member of the New York
Athletic Club two-mile team in meets
during the past three months.
After competing in the Olympic
meet in 1920 at Antwerp. Connolly
was the only American TO come back
to run the same event in the Olympics
OF 1924. Which shows that the
Georgetown man is a stayer, and to
show that he has confidence in himself
to stay still longer he says that he is
going to make the Olympic team of
1928.
Praises His Rivals.
Il is rather interesting to know |
Connolly's opinion of the men who |
actually have kept him from being |
recognized as the greatest of runners |
at his distance. He says that Nurmi |
is the greatest distance man the world |
has known, that Joie Ray is the |
greatest competitive runner and that /
Lloyd Hahn is the best at the mile.
And, contrary TO what most peo-
pie, and newspaper men, too, think.
Connolly still is young. He was born /
in 1901. consequently has just gone /
beyond the 25 mark. He ought to |
have two or three more years OF
splendid competition, if he takes the |
best of care of himself.
Connolly is popular. His gameness
is well known, and people have given
him credit for wonderful spirit he
has shown in such heartbreaking
competition as that in which he has
engaged, Most runners would never
have continued in the face OF such
dlScOuragementS and still renamed
stars of the first rank. He not only
is popular, but has fine personality
and is we'll liked by all that know
him, which is a distinction in itself,
because not always do the two things
go together.
Connolly is great runner. and
even if some Joie Ray bobs up next
wear and the next to keep him in sec
ond place, he still will be a great
runner.