Evening star., 1933-06-16
MAY PUSH CHAMP
IN NSTAR'S BIG RACE
HERE TOMORROW
Wyer, Runner-up to A. A. U.
Victor in 1882, Rates
Little Finn Highly.
BY FRANCES E. STAN.

A LTHOUGH young Leslie PawSon
~ Of Pawtucket, r. l., only two
~ months ago ran the fastest anna
teur marathon on record. one
of the keenest marathon minds on the
continent likes the chances of another
tomorrow in The Stars second annual
national A, A. u championship mara
thon just wee bit better.
To be sure, 98-pound Percy Wyer.
the wateh-charm marathoner. classes
Pawson as a great runner, but from
the land of Finland, where street car
and bus companies go begging because
of the natives fondness for galloping,
win comes the winner, thinks Wyer.
That man is Dave Komonen, trans
planted little Finn and ace OF the
worId-famous Monarch Athletic Club OF
Toronto.
Except for the fact Komonen is
member of the team which Is captalneo
by Wyer, the little Canadians state
ment may sound a bit unusual when
it is considered Wyer himself finished
second last year in The Stars race, and
in addition to being recognized as one
of the sports best authorities, is reck-
oned among the standout marathoners
in the world.
But the little black-and-gray-ha
Wyer. notwithstanding, likes Komonen
to win, Pawsor to place and any one
of 10 to finish third.
VITYER. however, qualities his state
w ment The weather will play
big part, says Percy. And, strange
" enough, Komonen. born in FINLAND
and now residing in Canada, needs
warm day.
If tomorrow is cold or rainy" pre-
diets Wyer, "Pawson will have the
edge, perhaps. But give konlonen
warm day and he'll take plenty OF
beating.
"Pawson.' and the diminutive Can
adian explained this unusual circum,
stance, lis a youngster, and cool
weather and rain doesn't hurt him
a bit. In fact, it was under these
conditions that he won the Boston
Patriots day race and set a world
record.
..Kc,nonen. on the other hand, is
"a years old-right in his prime Tor
marathoning, too-and hot weather Is
best for him.
IN company with Komonen and three
i other Canadian contenders-Os.
borne Robinson, Ronald Mayne and
Dick Wilding-Wyer, captain of the
Monarchs, who won the team cham
pionship last year, pulled in from
Toronto late yesterday evening after
80 hours on the road. When they
arrived IN Washington they were
greeted by the Elks Boys Band, which
made 'em feel right at home by play
Ing. the British national anthem. One
of the Canadians first acts was to
take a long walk, believe it or not.
Wyer. while giving his outlook on to-
morrow's race to this reporter, en-
countered plenty of opposition from
Komonen and his companions: Al
English
,he's been on this continent only four
years.. he did his best to point cut
Wyer himself figures to be among the
leaders, And what Kcmonen could not
put in words, Dick Wilding. although
not a member of the Monarchs, did.
Wilding, representing the Silverthorne
Club and a crack runner, also figures in
tomorrow's contest. but he won't ad-
init it.
yITYER. however, had plenty of stick
w to-it-iveness Anent Komonen
he went on to supply some inter-
esting facts:
Dawes been in only 10 major mara
thors and has won 6. He finished sec
ond in two others. including the 1888
Boston Patriots race. which PaWSon
won; seventh in the 1891 Boston race
and failed to complete the course in
his first as a marathoner.
Tn Finland, strange to say, he never
ran a distance race. Not until he came
to Canada four years ago did he take
I'D the sport. His running experience
in Finland however comes in handy.
Just a couple of weeks ago he timed
himself so well that he finished second
in the Beaches Olympic Club 10-mile
race. Last week he made the fastest
z fyV-n will ln
laws for the Minacher Trophy at
Toronto. That's unusual for mara
thoner"
incidentally, in the little car which
busted in from Canada yesterday were
two of the first three finishers in the
famous Boston Patriots day race this
year-Komonen. who ran second, ana
Wilding, who was third.
And the winner, Pawson, also will
compete tomorrow.
A BOUT himself Wyer had little to
"A say. Il was unable to run at Bos-
ton due to bad cold and conse-
ouently I haven't much confidence OF
doing anything tomorrow
But at this point Wilding interrupted.
ct wasn't here last year but Robinson
and MayneS tell me he said the same
thing-then ran second.
Furthermore, When ne nnSnto SlAlii
in the Boston race two years ago, II
was his worst showing in years. Percyll
be up there. Don't bet he won't
And with some mighty kind words
about Clyde Martak. defending cham
pion, Whitley Nicholson. Fred Ward
Frank Lally and Johnny Semple, the
Canadians trudged away on their walk.
And. incidentally. almost as much as
wanting 10 see one of their band WIN
the individual United States champion
ship. they are hankering 10 return
home again with the team title