The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-23
Running Of Frank Wykoff,
Joie Ray, Lloyd Hahn, Emil
Snyder, and Ray Barbuti Is
Hard to Beat, Says Critic;
Britains and Firms Fast
By F. G. VOSBURGH
(Associatcd Press Shorts Write

of the principal detectives Of the
United States Olympic track and
field team at Amsterdam will be to
regain its lost supremacy in races
on the flat. This it appears pretty
we'll equipped to accomplish.
Ever since the Olympic games
were revived in 1896 this country
has been supreme in all-around track
and field, but Of late years Euro
pean countries have been rompinR
off with the laurels in the important
foot-racing events Of the program
while the United States fell back on
its undoubted superiority in the field
events to outscore all rivals.
How thoroughly it has accom-
plished this is shown by the fact that
in the last five Olympics the United
States has scored more than twice as
many points as any other nation. At
ter the United States with its total
of 1856 1-2 points come Finland,
307 1-3; Great Britain, POI 1-3, and
Sweden, 1856 Sc.
Record Not Complete
Yet, despite this overwhelming
margin in track and field, the United
States has been able to win only
three Olympic flat races since 1912,
situation which took some of the
satisfaction out of the victories of
1920 and 1924, when foreign nations
could with some justification point
out that the American victory was
largely due to second and third
places and success in the field
events.
This Olympic year has brought
new opportunity for the American
athletes to recapture these most
coveted Of Olympic championships
the classic 100, 400, 1900, 5000
and 10,000-meter runs and the mar
athon. All six of these titles now
are held by foreign nations, the only
flat race championship the United
States holds being the 20O-meter
title, which jackson Scholz won in
1924 and is defending at Amster-
dam.
In 1920 things were not much bet
ter from foot-racing standpoint,
the only American winners on the
flat being Charley Paddock in the
100 and Alan Woodring in the 200.
Back in 1912 things were more like
Uncle Sam hopes they will be after
this years events, the Americans
winning the 100, 200, 400 and 800
meter runs.
Britains, Firms Good
England and Finland are the ma
tions that have lifted the laurels in
running of late, the English excell-
ing in the short distances and the
Firms taking most Of the rest Of the
runs, but here are some of the rea-
sons the American team is hopeful Of
recapturing at least its share Of
these championships:
The 1OO-meter king, Abrahams Of
England, is not defending his title,
and Frank Wykoff, the young Cali
fornian, who is the ace Of the u. S.
sprinting pack, equaled tire Olympic
record four times in four races in
one afternoon in the final tryouts.
The 4OO-meter champion, Eric Lid
dell Of England, will not compete in
this years games. and the United
States has two great young stars in
Ray Barbuti, former Syracuse foot
ball player, and Emil Snider. the Al
ALBANIAN.
Hahn Is Good
In the 800 and 1,50O-meter runs,
Lloyd Hahn is to try for double. J"
He has beaten world record time in
the former event, which is better
than Douglas Lowe of England. the
defending champion, has done.
In the 5,00O-meter run as we'll rs
the 1900 the shadow Of Paavo Nur-
mi makes American chances not so
good, although the youthful Leo
Lermond will make any Of them
step.
Joie Ray and his almost miracu-
lous showings in the 10,OOQ-meter
run and marathon give ground for
hope that he can beat out the Firms
in one if not both Of these events,
although they will have the two
champions, Rittola and Stenroos re-
spectively, back in the running.
All in all, it looks as though this
track meet might be won for Amer
lea on the track. instead Of largely
on the field.