Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05
.LOUKOLA WINNER
OF STEEPLECHASE.
Defeats Nurmi and Rito'a.
Yankee Teams Survive
Relay Race Trials.
Ry the Associated Press.

d A DAM, AUGUST Z. $3.50 FlnIA1U s
hardy sons again swept the
~ boards today in the Olympic
/ SteepechaSe final. taking the
first three places to monopoliZc the
/ victory fiaeStaffs, but the Nurmi- Ritola
dynasty that had been considered M
( pregnable was toppled for the first
time
On cold, rainswept course. under
/ conditions that made This tough event
/ tougher Nurmi, looking more like a
bald old man than at any previous
/ time, finished second and the hitherto
! famous iron man. Willie Ritola the
/ champion. quit while spry young Finn.
( Toivo Loukola, galloped on to win in
/ mountaineering fashion. Loukola a
! 22-year-old HelSingforS chauffeur beat
the great Nurmi by so yards in the
startling time Of minutes Il As Sec
onds for the 3.000-meter chase over
/ hurdles and water jumps. surprising
Ritola's record made in the 1924 games
by nearly IL seconds
Nurmi'S second straight defeat in as
many days was sensational enough, but
Ritola's virtual breakdown and with
drawal on the last lap after running
last all the way stunned observers, who
have seen the flying Firms dominate
any races they have entered for so long.
II was especially surprising in view Of
the fact that Ritola and Nurm finished
one-two yesterday in the 5.000-meter
maj. in which the usual order of their.
finishes was reversed for the first time.
Firms Both Are Injured.
1t developed today, however. that
there is a good reason for the downfall
OF The famous Firms from their former
unassailable heights both running their
last races of the 1928 games under the
nandlcap Of injuries Nurmi with a
strained back and leg and Willie with
Sualned thigh tendons. Age. perhaps.
mad some part in their sudden decline
but the steeplechase trials on Wednes-
Day put on the finishing touches
Neither veteran Finn ever shone over
the hurdles, but they were worse than
usual that day, Nurmi falling over The
nrst water lump and stumbling on an
other to suffer injuries both times. while
Ritola likewise was hurt.
4 had good grounds for not run
nlng in both the 5000 YESTERDAY and
the SteeplechaSe today" Nurrni told
friends explaining that his back END
leg both panied him severely II looked
from the stand yesterday as though
Paavo did not desire to chase Ritola
to the finish in the 5000. but the Firms
friends insist he was "all out" for the
first time IN his career and unable 10
match Ritola's squirt.
Whatever discomfort he suffered this
afternoon under miserable racing con-
oltlons, Paaro had enough running
ieIt 10 set the pace until Loukola took
command. After that Nurmi contented
himself with alternately running easily
in second place and coaching along The
youngster over Anderson. who came
through third To complete the Finnish
sweep. Ritola withdrew on the last
zap. The two Americans. W. o. Spencer
and Mel Dalton, we're last.
Yanks Win in Relay Trials.
Relay trials completed the days foot
racing program. producing sensational
performances on watery track
american teams came through all their
tests in winning fashion in the mems
200 and 500 meter races and the
Women's 400 meters, finals In all of
which win share the final days spot
b2f1t with the Marathon tomorrow
The world record for tho women's
500 meter relay was broken by the Ca
nadian team and equalcd by the Amer
ican quartet in winning their respective
- - IA TO 80 HENUuUS ana ~ 40,
The American team was anchored
ny The l00-meter champion. Elizabeth
Robinson Of Chicago and included
three girls from the MiIIrose A. A. of
New York-Mary Wsshburn. Jessie
Cross and Loretta Mcneil. Germany
france. Holland and Italy were the
other qualif1ers for the finals.
Ray Barbuti 400-meter hero. an
chored the winning ,600-meter team
which beat the Canadians. but Bud
spencer OF Stanford University MAX
ing his first appearance Of the games
ran the fastest leg which was AZ 5
seconds The British team. anchored
Dy Douglas Lowe. 800-meter cfamoion
registered The best time despite the
Tact that 1t had the worst conditions
running IN pouring rain Germany
france and Sweden also qualified for
the finals. '''
Yankee sprinters flashed within a
NTH OF second Of the world record
IN winning the fastest 4o0~meter rclav
race heat IN q Is. without much on-
position. Canada. Britain. France and
Germany were the others which miali-
hed for the semi-flnals.