New Britain herald., 1928-04-20
AMERICANS HOPE TO WIN
 MARATHON AT AMSTERDAM
Twenty Years Have Passed Since Runners From This Country Have Taken Olympic Event - DeMar. Henigan and Ray Cause Chance of Victory to Flare Up-Boston Veteran Outdistances Greatest Field Ever Assembled Against Him-Joe Optimistic.

Boston. April 20 R1-The Kama Nee flier, one-time king of the mill CTS, has passed on and today it's jogging Joie Ray. the marathoner, and latest hope of America for the greatest of all Olympic distance run ming honors.
 It has been 20 years since the laurel wreath that goes with Olym- pic marathon victory has been perch ed on the brow of an American. Today there are three outstanding Yankee stars in the distance running Armament, where only one held a secure place previously, and hopes of conquest this summer at Amster- dam are flaring up.
 There has never been much doubt about the consistent class of Clar- cnce H. Dcmar as a great mara lhon runner but whatever question existed is wiped out by his record- smashing victory yesterday in the 31st annual classic of the Boston Athletic association.
 Beat Great Field
 Spreadeaeling his field, the great est ever assembled for the historic event, Eemar clipped more than three minutes from his own course record. scored his sixth triumph since 1911. gained the national championship along with it, and clinched his place on the Olympic team for 1928 beyond the palest shadow of a doubt.
 But somehow or other this was ex- pocted of Demar. The lean. bright eyed little typcsetter of Melrose has won this gruelling jaunt from Hop klnton to Boston five times in the last seven years. He has done about everything that could be asked of him on this course except turn q few handsprings. These hills and dales are his precincts and his pounding feet seem to subdue them with miraculous as we'll as ridicu- lcus ease.
 So it was that the surprise of the race was smiling Jimmy Henigan of Dorchester who galloped up to second place with 9 whirlwind fin- jsh, and the sensation was gallant little Joie Ray, who overcame the terrific handicap of blistered. torn and bleeding feet to place third in the first marathon of his long career.
 Exciting Finish
 Rays finish will rank among the most e-quickening and vivid of distance running history. There was not shouting youngster, not an or dinary onlooker nor hardened critic in that vast. densely packed throng lining the course that failed to feel tingling thrill as Joie logged down the long trail to the finish.
 Here was an athlete of 32 after IS years of competition at compar- atively short distances, the eight times American mile champion. tackling the most difficult test of his career. Here was forlorn, al- most tottering little bundle of run hing machinery, moving ahead on sheer nerve and grit. His eyes half closed. lips tightly pressed and his feet burning from those last few tor turing miles. His ears were deaf to the clanor that greeted him. He lunged slightly at the tape and then collapsed.
 Had he tackled too much? Had he done the seeming impossible but over-taxed that great little running machine? Not if you ask Joie and it was not more than an hour after his desperate finish that he was ready to tell the world he was just beginning to run.
 not. My feet are sore, but that's to be expected. They haven't been con- ditioned for this kind of stuff. But