The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-08-07
STATS N'S
I||SPR(]VE
CL AIMS
BY George "A. Simpson

"
Those groans and sqnawks
about this country's poor
showing in the track and
field games at the OIympics, in
connection with the foot races,
were uttered too quickly, if the
final point analysis is to be
reckoned.
The United States finished on
TOP, with 4 total of I73. more than
the combined total OF Finland and
Great Britain. which finished sec
orfd and third. respectively.
Reports sifted homeward shat the
athletes were guilty Of overeating,
that they hadn't trained properly,
Of open dissension involving the
officials and dissatisfaction among
the team members because Of GER
tain conditions Such was expected.
These same things fIared up in the
1924 Oiympics at Paris. They u
also be present at the 1892 games at
Los Angeles.
The chief complaint Is that the
United States won but one foot
race. that being masterful piece
of hoofing by Ray BaTbuti. former
syracuse University football ace, IN
taking the 400 meters. How many
foot races went to the Stars and
Stripes iI1 1924. when the American
colOr-bearers anassed 255 points,
g sweep the field as they did this
pasf week. Just three-the 2OO
meters flat race. the ITO meter
hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles
Naturally disappOintments fol-
lowed when Frank WykOif. the
Glendale meteor, could do no bet.
ter than fourth in the 100 meter
finals: when Lloyd Hahn was
fifth in tIe 500 meters final and
failed Ia qualify in his so
meters heat, and when Z. Nor
gan Taylor was beaten I'm the
100 meters hurdles, an event ne
captured In the 1924 games.
some said it was the soft track.
the Americans being accustomed 70
fast tracks. That's a weak excuse y
because athletes of other nations
raced over the same surface.
The only plausible reason Is that
the American coaches and athletes.
a. well. believed there were none
superior to Wykoff in the 100
meters or Hahn in the 500 meters
and $500 meters Lord David
Burxhlev. the titled English timber
toprSer. was rated even with Taylor.
They simply moderated the strength
Of their rivals, especially Germany
and Canada. They had expected a
fight from Finland and Great
Britain.
The disgruntled .left.at-homes"
point to the imposing list of star
athletes that this country sent to
the games, proclaiming ii was the
greatest array that ever embarked
from these shores. But was it?
What OF the 1924 gang thar re
despite the failure TO take but one
The 1924 roster of runners included
Schuyler Enck, Ray Dodge, Charlie
Paddock, Frank Hussey, Jimmy
Burgess, Jimmy Connolly, Jole Ray,
Jackson ScholZ, Al Leconey, w. J..
Tibbets. Ed Kirby, Ray Baker. Ray
Watson, Alan HeIffrich, johnny
Romig, Chef Bowman. Loren Muir
Gibson. r. A. Richardson, Horatio
Fitch. Dan kinsey. Charley Brootins,
r. Morgan Taylor. Lloyd Hahn,
Bayes Norton. Clarence DeATaf,
Frank zuna and Frank Vending.
Not . weak flock. Yet, some
win "cr0w' II that crew gath
cred 255 points, how can 1t be
explained that the 1928 team
mustered but 173. The same
question can be asked Of Fin
land and Great Britain. The
Firms scored I66 points i'm 1924
to place second to the United
states, but compiled only 1O2 this
year. Great Britain fOtaled 85Lz
for third place In 1924, and only
As this year.
However, two stronger reasons
can be advanced for the Olympic
situation this year. Germany, for
the first time since the 1912 games
at Stockholm, competed and tied
for fourth with Sweden. counting
a points. Canada surprised by
scoring SO points, thanks to victories
by Percy Williams, the 19.year-old
sprinter, in the 100 meters and 200
meters.
1t tan SISo ne d0Oeu mat the H.
900 meters cross country run. the
10000 meters walk and the pen.
thalon were stricken from the 1929
Olympic calendar.
Others contend that points are
not considered. hut the number OF
firsts. The United States topped
the field in this respect. landing
eight events. Finland came next
with five firsts.
Yes. the competition was a little
tighter than the United States. Fin.
land and Great Britain anticipated.