Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-24
PRACTICE COURSE
81 IS MOST SERIOUS
Team Also Is in Danger From
0verConfidenCe and
0vertraining.
RY ALAN I. GOULD.

r. the Associated Press.
A MSTERDAM Holland. July "a
" combination of pitfalls has
II bsset Americas Olympic teams
4 i especially the track and field
men, as they prepare for the
start OF the international contests Sun
CAV
The triple points of danger appear
to be overconditioning, overconfdence
and. perhaps most serious of all, the
poorly-built practice track, which
coaches declare is ideally suited for an
epidemic Of pulled tendonS. Spralned
ankles and sore muscles.
I've never seen a cocker bunch OF
athletes in my life" asserted one Ameri-
can coach today. They don't consider
envy Of the foreigners in most Of their
events arguing chiefly among them
selves as 10 how much they Will beat
each other. They're assuming that the
races. at least up to 500 meters. are in
the bag for them Such spirit perhaps
Is not harmful for il maintains rivalry
among the boys. but they NAV as well
know now as later that they'll have a
lot Of tough races"
Ray Not 0verconfident.
While the quarter milers-Emil Snider,
Of Alabama Poly. Ray Barbuti of SYRIA
cuse and Joe Tierney of the New York
A engaged in hot debate among
themselves as TO who will be returned
the first American 400-meter winner
since 1912, IL was noticeable that the
usually cheSty Joie Ray suddenly has
turned a bit peSSimistic. Probably Joie
has not lost confidence in himself but
the little veteran. who is seeking double
honors in the 10000 meters and the
marathon. declares:
~.sa tab syzx +Ss.t Nx~a bur
out Those doing so haven't raced the
Firms. I have and I usually followed
them TO the finish line. The marathon
is my stuff now. but I am not counting
my chickens before they're Matched"
Over enthusiastic training may effect
eome OF the stars. Generally speaking
all had reached their peak for the final
trials in the United States then eased
of aboard ship. and now are attempt
ing TO regain best form too quickly de-
spite coaches warnings.
MeAnister Working Hard.
Fears are expressed for instance that
Bob McAllister. the flying cop" and
meters, would burn himself ont with his
strenuous two-day workouts, doing
half a dozen stiff 150-meter sprints
where other dash men are satisfied to
60 50. Concern also has been expressed
about Lloyd Hahn, middle distance
hope, working too hard. but the Boston
a A. express and his coach, Jack Ryder,
are unworried. They're satisfied they
know best how the rugged Nebraskan
should train.
The third factor that may beat the
Americans-tfle practice conditions
can't be helped apparently, but the
coaches are crossing their fingers every
time the men jump or run on the un-
certain surfaces.
The latest time trials Of the 400 and
300 meter runners show Barbuu and
Ray Watson of the Illinois A. G. are
performing in the best style. but the
times are unreliable indicators because
Of track conditions. watson stepped
the 500 yesterday in | minute, 81 Us
seconds with Earl Fuller, Olympic Club,
San Francisco al his heels and Johnny
Sittio Of the Chicago A. A, in third
place.
Hahn Is Near Record.
In a separate workout Hahn covered
three quarters Of a mile in 3:i2. not
far from the record. Tom Keane.
Syracuse coach, this time excellent
under the circumstances as he did
Bsrbuti's performance in winning a
400-meter time trial in 81 seconds with
Tierney second and Snider third.
Morgan Taylor, 400-meter hurdle ace.
showed quarter milers few tricks, |
however, when he covered the fiat 400
meter distance in so 9-l0 seconds.
Helmut Koernig, the German 200
meter threat. impressed Americans In
9 workout yesterday.
He is all sprinter. He knows his
stuff" said Keane.