Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-16
BY ALAN j. u
ASSOCIATED Press Sports Editor

ASSOCIATED Press Sports Editor)
NEW YORK (P)-For all the shout
ing there has been about the deca-
dence Of American long distance run
ming talent il remains a fact that
Uncle Sans entries have done as
well, il not better than those Of any
other nation in the classic Olympic
Marathon.
Finland's two triumphs since the
war, by Kolehmainer in 1920 at
Antwerp and Stenroos. the cabinet
maker, in 1924 at PARIS, are fresh
err in mind but over the long
stretch Of Olympic rivalry Amer
lea has given a good account of
herself and promises to do so again
this summer at Amsterdam, with
Joie Ray and Clarence DeMar lead
ing the pack.
Finland and America are the only
nations to produce more than one
Marathon king. The Yankee tri-
umphs Of Hicks at st. Louis in 1904
and 19-year-old Johnny Hayes at
London in 1908 match the sterling
victories Of the Firms in the last two
Olympiads.
On three other occasions in the
games Of 1906, 1912 and 1924, the
United States finished no worse than
third. Three Of the first four in 1908
were Yankees. At Stockholm four
years later the South Africans, Me-
Arthur and Gitsham, finished one
two but CASTOR Strobino came in
third for America and ten in the first
Is to finish wore the red, white and
blue shield on their jerseys. DeMar
was twelfth.
These displays OF American team
strength have never been approached
before or since by any other country.
Finland did not have n single finish
err in 1912 but landed four in the
first ten places in 1920.
This year there seems at least an
even chance that the most highly
priced Olympic victory will go TO an
American marathoner, with the pros
poets now favoring either DeMar,
40 years old and a veteran Of two
previous Olympics, or Ray, the for
mer mile king.
DeMar and Ray, ~ q result of
their performances in the first Of
fetal Olympic tryout, are the out
standing contenders. DeMar, like
most long distance Mon, seems to
ripen and improve with age. The
wiry little Melrose runner has in
~eXhaustible stamina, keen racing
judgment and experience in his ia
vor. But his ambition to crown a
brilliant career with Olympic victory
this time, after finishing third in
1924, is no greater than that of Ray.
Joie, too. has been denied the sat
FUFuafsny ~ n1Up.rFn wfrtnr.~ - tue
previous trips abroad. Where he
he is confident Of success over the
long grind. Rays wonderful stride,
natural grit and confidence are in his
favor.
The history Of the Olympic Mara
thon, is rich as il is IN color, could
have no more dramatic episode than
a triumph for the old kankakee Filler.
Twenty years ago Johnny Hayes
made himself a national idol by his
Marathon victory, even though il was
gained because Of the collapse of
the Italian, Dorando, who had led
Johnny into the stadium by a sub
stantiai margin and who would have
won had his stamina been enough to
carry him over the remaining few
hundred yards.
The tragedy in that race over
Dorando's downfall had a comic re-
lief in the protest of Hefferon, the
South African. who finished second,
that Hayes also was helped across
the finish. Hefferon was not inside
the stadium when Hayes finished and
had no basis for such a protest I'M
less he figured it was n way of
joining the general argument that
the finish aroused.
Hefferon's friends. in ex~tenuation
of his failure to win, explained lat
er that the distance was too short
for him and that he was not at his
best under about 10 miles.
No other Olympic event is 20 uni
versal in interest or representation
as the Marathon. twenty nations
entered runners in the 1912 race.
Thirty were represented in 1924 when
Finland. Italy, America, Great Brit
ain and Chile figured in the point
scoring.