Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-26

American
6ad feld prospects end eonciad,ns the
a asSs'g' s 'T oSoof eo.s sfe srens 'e"'
II as is generally expected. the United
States again carries off the olympic
track and field championships at Am
Sterdam this Summer. it will be due
principally to the proves of the sons
OF Uncle Sam who jump, vault and toss
Various implements around.
In other words, the deciding factor
viii be strength in the field and not on
the track. The same method of concen-
trating on Drawn that has enabled Cali
dornia colleges to clean up Eastern
championships will be employed by the
American team in its efforts to clean up
the OlympicS.
It is more spectacular to win the 100
meter dash or some other track feature,
but it produces no more points than a
victory III the Shotput or discus, where
the competitors toll with few, If any.
pIauditS.
How 1t Was Done in 1924.
Four years ago, while little Finland
was busy romping of with all the run
ming laurelS in sight from $500 meters
zip to the marathon, the American lluS-
kies went out and clinched the Olympic
title, capturing of the 10 field events
on the track was in the 200 meters by
jackson Scholz. but in the less spectacu-
lar field events Bud Houser won the dis
Gus and shotput, Harold Osborn took
the high Jump and decathlon, Hubbard
won the broad Jump, Lee Barnes the
pole vault and Fred Tootell the hammer
throw to pile UP a decisive margin for
Uncle Sans array.
This year Americas field strength is
no stronger perhaps than 1t was IN 1924.
Tt VIII have keener opposition than be-
fore, especially from Germany, which
has produced world record breakers this
Spring In the shotput and discus throw,
but it is powerful enough to beat any
other nations assembly Of jumpers and
weight toSSers as whole.
All of the American champions in the
field events will be back except Tootell,
in the hammer throw. and his place
may turn out to be one of the hardest
TO I'll. In addition, Houser and Osborn,
double winners in 1924. expect to de-
fend only one Of their crowns, HouSer
in the discus and Osborn in the high
Jump. It will not be so difficult. how
ever. to plug these gaps. America sell
com has had better collection Of
shotputters than at present to pick UP
where Houser left of in that event,
while Chief" Elkins, the Indian death
Jon star. leads formidable group of all
around performers.
Other Good Requirements.
There are good requirements in other
events also; in fact, better balanced
strength, even though no more out
standing stars in most of the field
features than the American team
boosted four years ago. DeHart Hub
bard. the great negro jumper, has had
trouble rounding into form, but Uncle
Sam hasn't much I'd worry about with
another 25-foot broad junper-Ed
Harnm Of Georgia Tech-ready to leap
in Hubbard's weak ankle, however,
may keep him out of the hop. step and
jump again. an event he would figure to
win If IN shape.
American high jumpers and pole
SaulteTs appear to outciaSs all rivals.
If Osborn isn't successful IN defending
his title, it may go to Bob King of
Stanford or Rufus Haggard Of Texas.
Lee Barnes stiffest opposition in the
pole vault viii come from his country
man, Sabin Carr. II form prevails, but
there also may be Ward Edmonds or
Bill Droegmueiler TO reckon with.
The weight events viii find COMPETE
ton much keener and the Americans
hard pressed to hold their own with
stars developed in Sweden, England and
Finland. as well as Germany. Uncle
Sam has four Shotputters in Kuck,
Krenz, Robert and Schwartz who have
beaten so feet frequently and 81 feet
occasionally, but Germany has Karl
EirschfeId, who tossed the 16-pound
iron ball to new world record distance
OF 81 feet sl2 inches this Spring. Again
In the javelin America has the best
Epear-tossing talent ever developed, with
o quartet able to do around 2i5 feet
consistently. but Sweden has Gunnar
Lindstron, the world record holder, and
Finland new ace IN Pentila, who has
broken the world record. besides Jonni
Myyra, the veteran who has won the
last two Olympic titles.
Another German Star.
Houser, the discus champion, and
Eartranft, the world record holder, will
De hard to beat If they return TO old
FORM. So viii Eric Krenz. the new
Stanford star, but again Germany puts
forward threat in Hoffmeister, cred
tied with beating Hartranft's world
mark recently with a throw of l59
feet Al inches.
Hammer throwing. a neglected art
abroad until recently. now has developed
potential champions In SKIOLD OF Swe-
&rus LA1@ADoA Va EH1Aadi0 dtlu NOhcs Vi
England. To beat any Of them IL viii
take some heroic work by the American
veterans, McGrath and Merchant, or by
sDn1e such newcomers as Wright and
BLACK. college men
Summing 1t up, America appears GER
tain Of victory IN only three Of the nire
reid events on this years Olympic pro-
gram, but fairly sure of three others.
With at least a good chance 10 break
through IN any one of the remaining
three. 1t should be a rough and rugged
battle Of skill and Drawn from the first
sosS TO the last jump.