Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-06

"A l0Et& Ss@C Wy &AkjtC l1aih AJAX
4 / field championship for tn
ninth successive time IN 3:
years. but only at the expense. Of tn
biggest blow to American foot racin
prestige ever sustained on an inteIna
tional field.
This was almost the unanimous opin
ion. even among Americans themselves
as the blue ribbon features of the Dinu
Olynpiad closed with Frances Algerian
Fl OuaA. wearing the marathon laure
wreath instead of Joie Ray and tht
bulk of the remaining running hcnor
divided by Finland and the Bfit!Sf
Empire.
Only the spectacular running Of Ray
RarbuG in the 400-meter fat race, II
which the Yankees scored their only
individual victory. and the triumph oi
two American teams III record break
ing or recor6-eQualing relays yesterday
saved the United States from complete
rcut on the ci1der path.
The point margin By which America
won the team title, 173 10 Finland S
i02, was gained chiefly on the brllliance
Of the field performers who won five
events Despite the decisiveneSS Of the
margin. the Americans scored 81 fewer
points than they cid four years ago
when the same scoring system pre-
vailed. and won only eight first PLACES
against IL in 1924.
Competition Is Keener.
KeeneT competition is evidenced by
the wider distribution of the chief
honurs this tine than ever before. The
failure of many of the Americans
such as Lloyd Hahn. Frank WykoH
ana Joie Ray. TO regain their home
fo<71. and the existence of some dis
cord in the official family over various
rrangementS-these reasons all helped
10 explain the way the Americans
Jared. The opposition this time came
net alone from Finland but stronger
than ever from the British Empire and
such hitherto obscure or missing con-
tenders as Japan and Germany.
We haven't q lot TO brag about.
Head Coach Lawson Robertson admit
ted after completion OF ethe elgnf-oay
struggle BIT. all circumstances con-
sicered. I think the boys did well. II
you think we are gloomy LOOK az the
Germans. They came back 10 the
OIvuuics with hopes high. ! figured
them our strongest rivals outside oi
Finland. but they didn't wlnt single
Avst place
There is no question that some CT
rw,~ runners fell short. We couldn't
give them all the training they needed,
but they were all beaten by good men.
I have no regrets personally w2en boys
IKE Williams. Jarva and wonderful
runners like Lowe, Nurmi and Rltoia
beat LIS"
Finland retained distance running
supremacy outside Of the marathon.
but two defeats for Paavo Nurrm ana
one for Willie Ritola at time wnen
this pair still was believed to be in
-ineibIe ranks as one of the games
biggest sensations. The flying Finnish
veterans. who between them won lo
OLYMPIC championships in eight years
unuuestionably have passed the peas
and may be on the way out completely.
Nurmi Believed Through.
81 doubt if Nurrni viii be seen N
OLYMPIC competition again unless ne
decides to take UP the marathon, one
Finnish observer declared. FaaFo
hasn't the speed he used TO have. he 5
sts1I marvellous Judge OF pace ana mao
a lot 10 do with the development OF the
rev rasr Iike Harry Larva, the 1900
meter winner, and Toiv0 L0uKo4a, the
sseep.echass champion, but ] expect 10
see him drop out Of competition. EuTFni
did not throw the 5,000-meter race TO
Ritola though 1t was apparent he cion
exert himself. He said afteFward ne
s,1s. didn't have a finish left II him.
The marathon victory of the Algerian
Arab Fl Ouan. who never won big
race before in his life, capped the cii-
max Of a succession Of upSets winch mn
the United States and Germany, saw
champions and record holders trimmed
uucerFmenioasiv and developed sucn
new sensations as the u1heralded Percy
Williams. double sprint winner. III
flsgaf and Miguel Plaza second place
winner. Just happened TO mt their
etYice at the right moment and run the
fsYorites ragged Thereby repeating
marathon history which always mas
been replete with upsets.
The Arab won IN such fashion as 10
have no doubt that he vas the best o.
yesterdays His name was the second
best in Olympic history.
Ray. though beaten. finished as game
IL or his frightened legs as ne
did at Boston several months ago. His
record Of finishing third, Grst and fifth
fr the only three competitive mara
thons o. his career is outstanding.
Only Two Retain Titles.
Only two individual champions Sic
ceSsfQlly defended their ilonorS, Doug
"a Lowe OF England, In the sG0-neters,
and Bud HoGser Of the United States,
tsl the discuss.
Title-holders beaten included Jackson
Ecaolz. United States. IN the 200
meters, Nurmi in tie 5000, Ritola 10
the 10000 AID steeDlechase, r. Morgan
TAYLOR Of the United states In the 400
meter hurdles. Harold Osborn Of the
United States, in the high jump, De-
bari Hubbard Of the United States, N
the broad jump A. w, Winter, AUS
traAa. In the hop step and jump, and
Lee Barnes. United States, IN the pole
xaU!f
with the track and field competition
oger. American forces concentrated their
energy tor the remaining week Of
Olympic sports In seeking titles IN
sp8gnmtng. rowing and boxing. IN which
they topped the Geld IN 1924. Cali
4gfYla's eignt-o2reo creW. and the single
sculier. Zen Myers Of Philadelphia,
are the main rowing hopes. The swim
Yaers are already on 10 good start
anG the boxers, starting TUESDAY. hope
F4E8T s5g,z Ia cham