Evening star., 1928-04-28
WIN PENN CHASE
IN INITIAL EFFORT
Misses Relay, Tries Longer
Run and Proves "Find"
for u. S. Team.
BY ALAN J. GOULD.
Assorted Press Sports Editor

PHILADELPHIA. April % (P).--For
the second time within few days, ath-
letic courage ingenuity and perhaps
fate have combined to produce an out
standing American Olympic prospect.
Barely a week ago 1t was Joie Ray,
the old miller, suddenly blossoming forth
at Boston as a marathon runner OF the
first class under difficulties and now
picked by veteran coaches as a likely
winner OF the Olympic laurel wreath.
Today the sensation is blond and
youthful Harold Keith, sturdy Uni
versity of Oklahoma foot racer, who
ran the first steeplechase Of his life ON
the opening day of the Pennsylvania
relay carnival on a few minutes notice
and won tall because of mistake.
A little matter of five minutes lost
time converted Keith from the anchor
runner on a medley relay team to a
steeplechaSe victor in so spectacular a
performance that Lawson Robertson
Olympic head track and field coach, i'm
mediately placed his stamp OF approval
rn the Oklahoman as an American can
didate for 3,000-meter steeplechase
hOnOrS.
Keith and his team mates came 500
miles to take part IN the distance med
ley relay against the pick of the East
and Middle Western Colleges. 1t was
a cold rainy day and the OklahomanS
! huggcd the warmth OF the clubhouse
| A mistake on the seoreb0ard mislcd
| them as to the time of their race. They
| came out to find to their dismay that
! the distance medley already hac been
under way minutes.
Take Chance at Chase.
Here was an athletic tragedy for
these sch0olboys. They appealed TO
the meet officials, who sympathetically
offered to let the OklahomanS run an
extra heat by themselves to get their
performance on record. But this ala
not satisfy their competitive spirit.
They looked at the steplechase course,
with its flock Of obstacles to hurdle, in
Guiding big water jump. No pink tea
party there but they were game. Keith
and two OF his team mates, Carson
and Heald. asked permission TO enter
this grueliing race and received 1t.
The fourth, Taylor, only quarter
miller, decided the distance of nearly ?
miles was TOO much for him.
I've never tried this before. What do
you suggest?" Keith asked one of the
referees, Gustavus 7. Kirby.
Stay up with the leaders; let some
other fellow set the pace and then Il
YOU have enough stuff left beat them
on the last lap" Kirby advised.
Keith followed instructions TO the
letter. He let Mel Dalton. little Seton
Hall star stay out in front most of the
route over slippery turf. hurdles and
that cold shower bath they called a
water Jump then galloped out in front
on the final lap 10 win by so yards
fifth
"Well build ourselves a steeplechase
course like this and practice up" said
Keith afterWard. This is the kind
Of stuff / like"
Keith. In Lawson Robertson's opinion
Is real Olympic find" He has a
mile In Alb to his credit and he's done
five miles In around "A minutes.
In Relay Today.
Today these Oklahomans were booked
as added starters in another race. the
four-mile relay. by special diSpenSation
This race will be one of the closing
features Of the carnival. along with
the finish of the DeCathlon and the ap-
peaTanre of Charlie Paddock. the fam
Gus California sprintcr. in special
l75-yard record -hreaking attempt.
The first half Of tho deeathlon yes
terday, furnishing the FIRST official
Olympic test OF all-around skill ended
with Tony Plansky, ex-Georgetown
halfback. In front of II rivals with
3T7S 7l05 points His foremost rivals
were Kenneth Dohertv Of Detroit. in
second place with 3762 sol points. and
Tom Churchill. University OF Oklahoma
star. In third position with 36il.235
Whitley Lloyd Naval Academy star
broke two decathlou records In the
100 and 400 meter runs but stood sew
enth in the points Vernon Kennedy
of Central Missouri State Teachers
College last years winner. was OFT
form and in eleventh place, too far
back 10 have more than an outside
chance Of coming through In the FIVE
remaining events today.
In the principal college relay races
Yesterday, Penn State tied Peunsyl-
vania for the quarter mile and won
the distance medley, while New York
University's crack quartet, anchored by
Phil Edwards, romped of with the
sprint medley crown and Middle states
l-mile championship,