The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-15
SPORT SLANTS
BY ALAN GOULD

Following the unquestionably bril-
liant, in fact, astounding, perform
ances of a number of Uncle Sans
better Olympic prospects on the east
ern boards, it Is not surprising to find
the more hysterical branches of the
sporting press headlining as follows:
"Venzke Cinch To Cop Olympic
Mile"
OF course there isn't any Olympic
mile. SO far as the technical side OF
the matter is concerned, the Olympic
equivalent being 1900 meters, or about
ITO yards short of mile.
Moreover, whirlwind though he has
proved himself at the distance, Venzke
will be anything but 'cinch" to re-
gain middle distance honors for the
United States, for several reasons.
Every American track and field
bug" will be roofing for Gene to pick
up the U. S. A. where Peerless Mel
Sheppard left off as far back as 1908
at London, but the youthful ace of all
American milers will be up against
the fastest field probably ever brought
together for the Olympic $780,"
Race Jinx to America
Assuming Venzke escapes slump
and has no difficulties in negotiating
the American tryouts he will face the
task of beating Frances cocky little
world record-breaker, Jules Ladou-
megue, as we'll as at least two stars of
a new generation of flying Films.
Lauri Lehtinen, one of these Firms,
has been as big sensation in Hell
singfors within the past year as
Venzke has become in New York. Vir-
taneau may be equally good and Harry
Larva, the 1900 meter winner in 1928
over Ladoumegue, will defend the
title.
Every great American miller in the
past 20 years has found the Olympic
1900 the toughest kind of a hurdle.
To make that clear it Is only neces-
sary to recall the sad events of 1912
at Stockholm. The U. S. A. that year
had the greatest four milers it ever
entered in this event-John Paul
Jones, Norman Taber. Abel Kiviat
and Sheppard, the 1908 winner.
They were the class of the universe,
supposedly, at the distance. Jones
and Taber set world records for the
mile while still collegians But long,
lanky Englishman named Arnold
Strobe jackson galloped down the
Olympic stretch to beat all the Amer
leans. Kiviat was second and Taber
third. They were too busy watching
each other to pay any attention to
Jackson until it was too late.
Since then American over-confi-
dence has been so rudely jolted that
the same mistake will not likely be
made again. Yet it Is for the reasons
furnished by precedent and facts that
no attempt now should be made to
crown Venzke with the Olympic laurel
or beat the tom-toms in advance.
Nurmi Still Rules
Venzke, handsome, cool youth of
%, is well equipped to take care OF
himself and 60 on to make further
mile-racing history.
He looks to have every Qualifica-
ton for doing the classic distance in
4:06, a mark that the celebrated
Nurni considered easily within reach
when he was at his prime.
Venzke. however, is not yet another
Nurmi. The Finn never specialized IL,
the mile, although I believe he could
do the distance faster than Venzke or
any living. man. His achievements, as
yet unfinished, have no parallel when
you figure that Paavo still holds
world outdoor records from one to
ten miles, that he is the only runner
ever to beat 8 minutes for two miles
(1925 and 1881 and that he probably
will wind up his career by being q
victor in four successive Olympiads.
They will still be trying to tie that
when you and are very old.