New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-08
TRACK STARS TO
ENLIVEN SEASON
Nurmi, Wide and Williams to
Compete at Meet in New York

New York, Jan. 8 Pl-Track and
field followers are looking for Faavo
Nurmi, Edwin Wide and Percy Will
liams to give spice to what other
wise might be stale. flat and I'M
profitable indoor season.
Until it became known that those
three International stars would COM
pete here. track and field promoters
were scratching their heads in des-
pair. With Lloyd Hahn apparently
out of the competitive picture. Jole
Ray turned professional and Or.
Otto Peltzer in foreign parts. three
Of last years greatest drawing cards
| were already out of the deck. But
Nurmi, Wide and Williams should
| more than make up for their alb
sence.
Williams. the Olympic sprint
champion from Vancouver. is down
on the books to compete In the Mill
rose A. A. games next month, but
neither Nurmi or Wide has seen tit
to announce his plans yet. Most OBJ
servers however, believe both will
don running shoes within a month.
Nurmi, in fact. may get into action
before the end Of January. He has
been doing considerable training
since he arrived here in December
and soon should he ready for COM
petition, Wide said a few days ago
that he would need at least 1--WE
weeks to get into shape.
1t may be that the presence OF
the "Phantom Finn" and the
Swedish Schoolmaster" is all that
is necessary to lure Hahn from his
Nebraska farm to the board tracks
again. Announcement that Williams
would invade United States tracks
already has sent one perfectly good
retirement into discard. Bob Nc
Allister, the erstwhile Flying Cop
has started training for new come
back campaign in the hope OF meet
. ing Williams at any distance from
60 70 100 meters.
Hahn, discouraged over his poo'
showing in the Olympics, where he
placed fifth In the 500 meters and
failed to qualify at 1900 meters an
nounced he was through with thu
game. But he may come out OF re
, tirement at the urging OF friends
The Scandinavians were not in tn
, field against Hahn at Amsterdam
but confined themselves to tn
! longer distances. Nurmi won TIL
! 10000 meters with his countrynan
+ Willie Ritola second and Wide third
Ritola won the 5000 meters Will
Nurmi second and Wide again third
Nurmi however. has announced
s that his American tour contemplate'
= competition at distances from on
s mile up. Some OF Hahn's creates
> races have been run over long dis
t tances.
S But regardless whether Hahn at
: tempts a come back the three In
vadine foreigners may be assured o
: considerable opposition. In tn
sprnts Williams possibly will NEE
such men as McAllister. Wildermutl
of Georgetown: Daley and Quinn o
y Holy Cross, Wibecan, former Pit
star, Locke OF the New York A. {
= and others.
. In the middle distances Ray Con
ger, Phil Edwards. Sam Martin. an
. a flock of lesser lights are ready 70
action. Leo Lermond. Boston A.
a star seems to be the hest this coun
: try has to offer in the longer dis
tances.
= Williams invasion will he rathe
:. short lived but Wide will be here 70
# several months and Nurmi for
Is year at least. Paavo already ha
S been granted registration as a
y amateur athlete by the Metropolita