Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14

A THLETES returning from Inc
~ senior track and field meet at
"A Denver are enthusiastic about
"A their experience in the Rocky
Mountains.
Not only was the hospitality lavish
and unceasing, but every condition Tor
the meet as arranged by Director
Bingham of Denver University and
District A. A. U. officials stamped 1t as
outstanding in the annals of games I'M
der the auspices of the national organl-
cation.
In no meeting, says Daniel Ferris,
secretary of the A. A. u, has the track
been so nearly perfect, the take
offs for jumps, vaults and the like IN
better condition. The crowd, which
amounted to some 10000 for the three
DAYS, compared favorably with attend
ancs at past national meets save, OF
course, when they have been held In
some such enthusiastic track center as
Boston.
Participants in the games tell the
writer they felt no adverse effects from
exercise under pressure in the mile
high altitude, save a dryness in the
throat, which was easily counteracted
by the use of loZengeS. They see no
reason at all why foot ball elevens OF
the East. the South, the Middle west
and the Pacific Coast could not play at
Denver without any more physical tax
than the game involves in lower att
tudes.
The experience of Leo Lermond Is
typical. He came from New England
filled with stories of well meaning
friends that If he worked too hard ne
would bleed from the nose and the
mouth. would be lucky forsooth If he
did not collapse upon the track. Ler-
mond is an imaginative chap and was
tAI ~ in
he ran a mile and quarter and then
stopped, saying he had slight pain IN
his chest.
Fellow athletes and officials joshed
him and so next day he let loose over
three quarters of a mile. Not knowing
how fast he was going, he did the nrSt
quarter in 0:54, turning in 1907 Tor the
distance, which was faster time tha nan
he had ever made before. II ne hao
kept on to the mile, running as he was,
he would have done 4:09.
Pleased with his showing he prophe-
sled that the next day in competition
he would do the mile in ALB, but
gale of wind prevented. That gale,
blowing on July 4. was said to be IN
Summer. Whether or not it was, the
fact remains that the strength OF the
wind was sufficient to blow down many
of the hurdles and in the SprintS 1t
was dead against the runners.
The results of this meet are certain
to be beneficial to the cause of track
and field in the Rocky Mountains.
The achievement of the Denver Ath-
letic Club in winning the junior cham
pionship was significant in more ways
than one. chiefly so. one suspects IN
the lesson it taught concerning the
ability of athletes of the section to hold
pace and distance with track and f1eld
men of the country.
1t is certain. for instance, that If the
next A. A. U. meet is held in Los
Angeles. as seems likely. that many
Rocky Mountain performers will par
ticipate and that in form as in con-
fidence they will reflect the excellent
effects Of the Denver affair.
Denver, say the returning athletes,
gave them the keys to the city. They
had courtesy cards to all the clubs and
theaters and among the entertainment
was a 250-nile ride to the Rockies, in
Guiding giant Long Peak, which adven-
turous Denverites climb and sometimes
give their lives in so doing.