Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-08-16
THE SPORTLICHT
BY PAP
by CRANTLAND RICE

to offset her loss of distance at the
turns and when the two came to the
final meter finish the young Pennsyl-
vania girl was only foot or SO behind.
Miss Madison put on her fastest pace
down this last stretch. But she could
make up no extra margin. At the
finish she was less than eight inches
in front, where both broke world
record by two seconds. So don't forget
the name of Elinor Right of Pennsyl-
vania. Her coronet should be just as
bright as that of the winner.
WHAT about the italian eight-oared
w crew? Before the trials started
most Of the gossip was built around
California, Canada and Great Britain
Then Italy won her heat in the fastest
time of the day. This crew had come
a long way from home. 1t was facing
a crew that had cleaned up at Pough-
keepsie and had won its place at
Worcester Yet in the eight-oar final
Italy had the race won with less than
10 yards to go.
TIL Golden Bears had to lift their
shell from the water in final desperate
the span of hand. ItalyS performance
lures of the all-world competition. 1t
was a magnificent contribution to the
games.
THE same story might be told OF
i Evelyn Hall in the 80-meter hurdles
race for women. Her chief oppo-
nent was the astonishing Babe Didrik-
son, who had broken a world record in
he Grrf fy-tn 1ic 70 rryoc
run the Dallas whirlwind was the first
over the last hurdle
Yet Miss Hall came with such rush
down the brief stretch that she almost
caught the flying Babe at the tape. The
margin was less than 3 inches. II
was almost a dead heat. Here again
the loser broke a world record. There
is an element Of unkempt fortune in
breaking a record and then running
second.
And one of the toughest breaks OF
all is the fact that the margin of a
gnat's eyelash may be as long as a
yard. The grim. gray, dusty records
only tell the story of victory and de-
feat. They rarely give the loser a
break where the margin may be sc
narrow that just a little more luck may
be the decisive stroke.
IN answer to those who are still ask
1 ing the official score of the Olympic
games-there is only one reply to
make. There is no official Olympic
score. There can't be in a pageant
that carries IA major sports. The
United States led, but this was to be
expected under home skies with the
largest entry list in the games.
But each Olympic event is important
enough to stand alone-Hampson' vic
tory in the 300 meters-zabala's victory
in the classic marathon-Broccali
triumph at 1900 nleters-the marvelou;
craftsmanship of the Hungarians-the
riding and jumping of Baron Nishi Of
Japan in the Prix DIES Nations-the
overwhelming rush of Japanese swim
mers from 100 to 1900 meters with only
one setback-Patrick O'Callaghan's fina
hammer throw-and long list of Other
triumphs that travelled as far away as
New Zealand and the Argentine. In g
field of this sort there is glory anc
honor enough in each in dividua
triumph.
And there is almost as much glory
for those who finished second, but who
will soon be forgotten. Yet most OF
them deserve just as high a niche In
the Olympic hall of fame in the greatest
OF all Olympic carnivals. Their sprigs
Of olive and laurel should be just as
green and just as lasting.
Copyright, 1882. by North American News
paper Alliance, Inc.)