Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-23
u. S. OLYMPIC ATHLETES
BEGIN TUNINC.UP PROCESS
Forget About Soggy Track They Start Final Grind
Marathon Route 'Better Than Long
Beach, Joie Ray Declares.

By the Associated Press.
A AMSTERDAM, July 23.--Casting
~ aside their worries over the
IL condition of the turf in the
4 4 Olympic Stadium, American
track and field stars have
buckled down to the serious business
of putting themselves into condition for
the opening of the international games
next Sunday.
When the Americans first viewed the
soggy terrain In the stadium they were
bit downhearted as they realized that
only some frenzied last-minute engi-
neering work could put the track and
field in shape for fast times and long
distances when the Olympics get under
way.
But they grew more philosophical
after their coaches pointed out that
they would be no more handicapped
than their rivals from other countries
and that, after all, an Olympic victory
was an Olympic victory regardless OF
whether or not the time or distance
broke or approached the record.
Thought He Was Fast.
Ray Barbuti, the big Syracuse
sprinter, thought he had run Al
second quarter mile yesterday, but the
watches revealed so is seconds. The
soggy track accounted for the slow
time.
Among the other athletes who looked
impressive we're Lloyd Hahn. the Boston
A.. A. middie-distance ace; his club
mate, Leo Lermond, the long-GiStance
star: Ray Watson of the Illinois A. c.,
and Earl Fuller of the Olympic Club,
San Francisco, who turned in fast times
for the mile, and Edmund Black, New
ark A. c. hammer thrower, who heaved
his favorite implement 1855 feet 10
inches.
The marathoners, perhaps, are the
most care-free group of runners in the
American ranks They don't have to
worry about the soft track at the
stadium. Their own course is just
about ideal. Over the whole distance
of 26 miles, 3S5 yards, the marathontrs
found nothing that they could call
hill or even an upgrade.
Better than Long Beach" was
Cocky Joie Rays comment. That
spoke volumes, for Joie broke the
American record in the Long Beach
marathon this year, the second time
he had ever run the distance.
With the arrival of the advance
guard OF the German teams, 1t has
become known that Dr. Otto Peltze-
win start in only one race-either the
1900 or 800 meters The Teuton mid
die distance star has been slow In re-
covering his form after an injury sui-
fered earlier in the year.
Work Twice Daily.
Double workouts daily will be held
by the Americans until midweek, when
the track and field men who compete
early next week will taper OF.
The marathon squad was out early
this morning for their 18-mile jog
along the fiat course they will follow
in actual competition against the
worlds best distance aces during the
games. Joie Ray. the converted miller,
appeared particularly strong. the
confident Chicagoan is up to his nat
ural weight and is in high spirits.
The rowers were ready for big day
of speed tests at Sloten. MAJ. Gen.
DOUGLAS Macarthur of Baltimore, presi-
dent Of the American Olympic COM
nnittee. Yesterday traversed the crew
course and returned to the Roosevelt
enthusiastic about it and excited as
GOV over the showing of the big Uni
yerSity Of California eight.
Its the finest crew I've ever seen
anywhere IN the world, ne exclaimed.
Every man is magnificent in power
and steadiness."
A shower during the night alarmed
coaches who fear the stadium track
won't be ready In time. but it was OF
less than an hours duration.
Swede "Saved" the Track.
This morning the Dutch press halls
Kreigsman, who at the eleventh hour
was called from Sweden to finish en-
cheering work at the stadium. as the
savior Of the cinder track and Dutch
honor"
HilverSun has become an interna-
tional center for equestrian competitors
Just as Sloten has for oarsmen. The
horSemen Of 20 nations in the uniforms
of most of the armies of the world are
putting their mounts through intensive
training.
Numerous towns and villages in the
vicinity of Amsterdam have become
training centers for various sports, The
Dutch boxers, for instance, have gone
into training at Edam-where the
cheese comes from. American boxers
worked out as usual aboard the Roose-
welt yesterday. but the Dutch did not