Evening star., 1932-02-14

"a athon running for the
w year 1882 will be set
tied in the Olympics,
but the struggle for the cham
pionship of the United States will
take place right here in your
Uncle Sans front yard, late in
August.
The National A. A. U. title race at
26 miles 385 yards will be sponsored
by The Star and will occupy a leading
place on the program OF the Wash
ington Bicentennial Celebration.
Representatives of the A. A. u. the
Bicentcnnial Commission and The Star
will meet tomorrow night to work out
some of the details. The race vas
awarded the Nations Capital at tie
national convention of the A. A. U:
after sharp bidding by a number OF
big cities.
Title May Go Abroad.
Technically. the contest will be for
the championship OF this country, but
the crown may be borne to a foreign
land The race will be thrown open
to all runners who compete in the
Olympic marathon and from present
indications these will include repre-
sentatives of England Finland, Swe-
den. Norway. Denmark. Germany.
France. Japan and the Soutn AIneTl-
can countries
At peculiarly appropriate time,
the big race will present opportunity
for a display OF international gooa
will. Invitations to the athletes VIII
be extended through the embassies and
legations of their hcmelands and their
participation will be urged by the
Foreign Relations Committee of the
Olympics and national officers Of the
A. A. u. all of whom have expressed
a desire that the Bicentennial race
be made a classic not only to focus
further attention on athletics in this
boom year OF amateur sport, but TO
further the cause OF international
competition.
Most of the European athletes in
the Oiympics are expected to return
home by way Of New York and 1t
would be a simple matter with negligi-
bic expense attached for the mara
thoners to stop off for the race here.
Keenlv alive to this condition Is the
Bicentennial sports director, Champ
Pickens, wro hopes to arrange Tor
special showing of Olympic heroes.
Start at Mount Vernon.
The leather-lunged laos in the Wash
ington race will traverse course WINCH
in the main. was travelled many times
by the great American to whom the
race is dedicated The start will be at
Mount Vernon. and Is miles OF the way
will be over the new Mount vernon
boulevard and across the Memorial
bridge. leaving a little more than 10
miles to be run within the city proper
Swinging into Potomac Park, the pa
rade OF thin clads will continue on
around Hams Point. thence to Consti-
tuition avenue and east to Sixth street:
into Pennsylvania avenue ana on
around Peace Monument; back up tAe
avenue and back OF the Treasury, a
circuit of the White House and then
once around the Ellipse, with the nnlsh
at the Zero Milestone.
The course has been unofhcially
measured BY Winfree E. johnson, sec
retary Of the District chapter OF the
A. A. u, and a member OF the long
distance running committee OF the ma
tional organiza ton. 1t will be metlcu-
lousy checked before the race. 1t Is
not at all improbable that a record Tor
cross country running at the full mara
thon distance will be established.
Course Pronounced Ideal.
johnson pronounced the course ideal
from the viewpoint of the contestants.
Ii is devoid Of sharp and long hills. but
not rnorotonous IN the first 16 miles.
or from Mount Vernon to the Memo
rial Bridge th@re are an even dozen
grades. none st ,cp enough Oh the climo
to demand excessive eEertiOn. ard none
sharp enCuoh cn the descent to jam the
runners tees Refreshing patches OF
shade punctuate the course. and tn"
athletes may get a tremendous break
in the form of cooling breeze from
the Potomac. The historic river comes
into view a dozen times or so. After
the first long leg the perfectly nat
stretch within the city, much OF 1t IN
the shade. will be made to order.