Evening star., 1933-06-18
FINN SETS RECORD
IN STAR CONTEST
Mel Porter Is Runner-up.
Ward Third-DeWhurst
First D. c. Finisher.
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strangely enough, did not run while in
Finland, but after emigrating to Can
ada, four years ago, he took up distance
running. Almost from the start of his
distance running career he has been an
in his first marathon, but yesterday
marked his eleventh start and his sew
enth victory-a wonderful record in a
game where few men can stand the
grueling pace that comes from pump
ing heart, aching feet and that inner
voice that beckons to the less stout of
heart, why not quit? Is it worth the
efort?"
Wore De Bruyn Down
The new champion is "a years of age,
and weighs about 135 pounds. Sturdy
of leg, and lean of body, he has the
deep chest characteristic of outstanding
athletes in any sport where endurance
pays dividends. That same endurance
plus his great heart, carried him over
the torturing first IL miles where he ran
neck and neck with De Bruyn and
finally wore him down. Where De
Bruyn staggered across the finish line
in third place last year, this year he
could not finish. The smooth strides of
the gliding Finnish ghost wore him
down just as did his first place battle
with Bill Agee last year.
Komonen won the Canadian mara
taaon championship in 1881, and was
called back home to Finland that year
to represent his homeland in the Olym-
pics Of 1882. But in Finland he de-
veloped trouble with his legs and was
unable to enter the trials. He has little
surplus weight, and in temperament
Is modest and cheerful. AS he crossed
the finish line down there in the FL
hpse late yesterday he was breathing
whose tiring legs barely carried them
across the line and who collapsed after
the finish. But Komonen wanted
water. He drank nearly two quarts
Of water after he finished. AS he
posed for the photographer a few min
utes later when Col J. A. Woodruff,
officer in charge of Public Buildings
and Parks, presented him with the tro-
ply donated by The Star, the little Finn
looked like man who had run 100
yards, and not one who had put more
than 26 fast miles under his feet.
Wins Local Title.
Arthur Dewhurst of the Central Y.
III. c. A. won the local marathon cham
pionship, finishing fifteenth in the good
time Of hours 38 minutes, SIS seconds.
Dewhurst won the District of Columbia
championship last year.
Virtually from the start, and within
few seconds after President William
z. Russell of the District Chapter,
Amateur Athletic Union, fired the shot
which sent the field of 81 runners away
from the starting point at Mount YER
W.
took the lead after topping the first
hill leading down toward the Potomac,
closely pushed by De Bruyn. At the
fve-mile mark, winding through the
Virginia hills along the river, they were
running in this order: Komonen, barely
q pace in front of the sturdy German,
De Bruyn; Sloboda, Porter, Martak and
Hupal They were in exactly the same
position at the 10-mile post, which the
leaders covered in the good time of SO
minutes, IS seconds, with the sole ex-
ception of Martak, who dropped back
in the ruck and had been replaced by
Ward. For those first 10 miles and for
the first IS Komonen and De Bruyn
plodded along in that order, De Bruyn
barely step behind the ghost-like
Finn. But at the 15-mile post Porter
had crept up and was only few hun
dred yards behind the leaders, followed
Pawson Forced Out.
A short distance north of Alexandria,
Pawson dropped out, the pain of the
broken bone in his foot too much for
even his iron nerve They swept across
the Arlington Memorial Bridge with the
smooth-striding Finn and the plodding
German running neck and neck. Down
into trafhc-congested East Potomac
Park they ran, winding in and out be-
tween automobiles gathered down there
around Hains Point to see Washington's
greatest athletic spectacle of the year
Perhaps down there the fumes from
thousands Of motors finally get to those
iron lungs Of De Bruyn Perhaps it was
the pace of the Finn. But whatever II
was, De Bruyn dropped out. worn
man, exhausted by the pace which sent
Komonen on to victory. Down there in
the park also Martak decided to call 1t
a day. A friend from Baltimore picked
I'D the fallen champion and conveyed
him back TO the Y. NJ c. A. official
race headquarters. That left Komonen
far in the lead, 200 yards and more in
front Of Porter, who led Ward by the
same margin. They swept up that
heart breaking hill on which sits the
United States Capitol, out East Capitol
street to Eighth and back west on B
same order with Porter ard Ward un-
able to catch the flying Finn.
Sends Greetings to Mother.
Here he comes" a small urchin
shrilled above the noise of the throng
as Komonen poked his wiry frame
around the last turn of the EllipSe. Put
ting on final burst of speed he dashed
across the finish line to the new course
record and the crowning victory OF the
year among amateur distance runners.
A radio announcer grabbed him
Hello, mother" he said. ''1'll be home
soon" He sat down on an Army cot
pushed away a Solicitous Red Cross
nurse and asked for water And did
he drink water? His thirsty pores lit
terally ate 1t up.
One of the unusual features of the
race, the second national marathon
sponsored by The Star in Washington
was that several men who had not fig
ured prominent in the pre-race dope
finished well up. while other more IA
yored performers were back in the
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