Evening star., 1928-05-31

instituted in 1899. dropped in 1895, re-
sl1rned in 1895, dropped IN 1908, re-
sur1ed in 1904. dropped in 1905, re-
sunled In 1916. dropped n 1917 and
resumed in 1919.
The present Olympic distance for the
steeplechase is 5000 meters. This has
been the distance since 1920, and seems
standard nov Before 1920 the coun-
try holding the games evidently had the
privilege Of making the distance TO It's
liking, for in 1900, at Paris. two races
were run. one at $500 meters and an
other at 1000. In 1908. at London, the
distance was $500 meters.
The event being so rare. viii give
the general rules for 1t. The hurdles
shall be not more than feet high. and
a water Jump shall be included. Each
competitor must 60 over or through the
water. and any one who steps 70 one
side OF the Jump shall be disqualified.
TO each lap there shall be five Jumps
including water Jump. The hurdle
ct TIE water jump shall be firmly fixed,
height 3 feet.
Twesve-foot Water Jump.
The water jump shall be ~ feet in
width and length. The water Is feet
6 inches deem at the hurdle end, sloping
70 The level Of the field at the farther
end. The competitor must clear each
Jump. but may vault each obstacle.
A steepleciizse under Olympic rules
was staged this Spring IN the Penn re-
lsv carnival. for the college men, and
I an sure il was well liked by the
crowd nest Of them seeing this race
for the first time.
II IS a event which could well be
used nn al programs n the United
States. It would be relief from fat
running. and would tend 70 develop the
distance men.
The United States should place run
uers IN the scoring In this race at AM
ster6am, but co not think those run
ners viii be good enough for first, sec
0r6 or third
willie Ritoia. Finland, won In Paris
"a 1924. and 10 doubt he viii repeat
"a Holland. RatOla certainly Is better
now tlazn four years ago. He Is a ia
usiiszg neurE II distance events In the
Tnsted States, where be received all
his early training. Going TO New York
from Finland AZ an early age, Ritola
sosne6 the Ffnntsh-American A c.. and
became . star. He vas called back 70
his native land IN 1924 TO prepare for
the Olympic. and took two hrsts and
three second places at Paris In the dis
tznce rgzrzs. being OutShone b. only the
great EurTra. q teammate.
The FinnS have other good runners
for this race. KzsZ vas second 20
f1toia IN 1874 and viii be available
again. with others.
France and England also have good
Ffler for the eteeplecf1ase. Hodge, Eng
land. saon az Antwerp IN 1920, and stu
Is n competition. believe. France
Rad Bontegnps ln third place four years
". o. Spencer, formerly Of Texas
University and now AZ Illinois taking
graduate work. appears the best Of the
Americans. Spencer Is miller capable
81 40, snd he has spent q lot Of time
On the Steepleck1se running race.
Russell Payne. former University Of
Pennsylvania tyo miller ard q member
~ the Olympic team IN 1924. again viii
enter the sseeplecazse trials. Payne
soa the 1877 intercollegiate 2-raiIe
championship. Penn has another run
rer, Montgomery, working for the race.
He has run miles n $50, and VIII
Improve before the tryou1S
Keith, Oklahoma University, won the
Penn relay 5y000-neter gteepIechase
without any experience. With training
ks EhoGa6 rg1n wei under 10 minutes
The Olympic record is . minutes 2z6
seeo16S, MADE ky Ratois This Is very
fsss. doubt II any American entry
vii make this tine by several seconds
II America does as wei a. four yeATs
ago, placing Rick. New York A. G.,
10argn, II viii De al expect from the
Eaea cut for the eYent.
sI6zsysRsss 1873. 80 ~ eo3Strses ~ fss
A9ffa Aeasfaea0 EeEsysper AGsasnee.l