Evening star., 1933-06-17
SOME TOO RUNNERS
''SEEK A. A. j. TITLE
Evening Star Race Is Rated
Wide Open as Start at
Mt. Vernon Is Awaited.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

I'M the making today as one
IVA of the greatest distance
go running fields ever assem-
bled anxiously was awaiting the
bark of the official starters gun
at Mount Vernon. Promptly at 2
O'Clock approximately 100 runners
from all points of the compass
were to toe the line. Some two
and a half hours later one of this
number was to realize a lifelong
ambition-victory in The Evening
Stars second annual national A.
A. U. championship marathon.
Exactly 26 miles 385 yards away, by
a circuitous route, is the finish line at
the Zero Milestone, in back of the White
House A grueling grind is the mara
thon. passed down by the ancient
Greeks, and all along the way scores
of hopes will be blasted to bits by heat
cramps, blistered feet and other haz-
ards which are the long distance racers.
AS the field prepared to go to the
post the air was filled with conjecture
Would Leslie Pawson be able to rout
the JinX which year ago prevented
Paul de Bruyn from repeating his Bos-
ton Patriots day victory? Would
new world record be established? Would
history be repeated and the laurels 20
to rank outsider? Would this race
prove Clyde Martak's victory last year
was q fuke?
DY the keenest marathon minds on
- The continent the race has been
tagged one Of the most attractive
Ay, Eynfr
were received, and it was possible 100
of this number would start.
The latest running great" to add his
opinion was young Leslie Pawson, 1888
Boston Patriots day winner and world
record holder with the time of hours
81 minutes 135 seconds.
Resplendent in a pale blue, Upper
equipped golfing sweater and hose, Paw
son, the best dressed marathon rum
ner," scanned the entry list with in
terest last night after arriving from
Pawtucket r. I.
Although only two months ago he
electrified the running world with his
world record in winning the famous
Boston race. the feat apparently did
not go to Pawson's head. Almost too
modest he appeared.
Its anybody's race" were his words,
his eyes lingering on the names Of
Clyde Martak, defending champion;
Dave Komonen, runner-up at Boston;
Percy Wyer, second IN The Stars race
last year; Whitley Nicholson, winner of
more races during the last half dozen
years than any other marathoner; Paul
de Bruyn, German champion; Frank
Laily, Willie Ruckel and scores of others.
4 S the sun broke through cloudy
"A skies this morning a wide grin
spread over the features of Dave
Komonen and members of the Monarch
A. C. Of Toronto, defending team cham
pion.
Komonen and Percy wyer, aces of
the famous Monarchs, are conceding
youth to Martak, De Bruyn and Paw
son and consequently prefer warm
weather. 1t was on cold, rainy day
that Pawson broke the record in Bos-
only few yards away from the tape,
but, despite the appearance Of the sun,
today probably will be considerably
cooler than last years race.
Hot or cool, rain or shine, the finish
nevertheless was expected to be dra-
matte affair, even outshining last years
great wind-up, when De Bruyn tainted
and Martak and Wyer, 98-pound Ca
madam passed him. De Bruyn, how
ever, recovered sufficiently to crawl
across and finish third.
A N idea Of the caliber Of todays race,
"A even higher than the big event Of
last year, may be gained by
glance at the entry list, published else
where in this paper. In today's race
will be, in addition to Pawson and
Komonen, a dozen other stars Of the
first magnitude, who, incidentally, were
not in the race last year.
Washington will be represented by IS
runners, including several dangerous
contenders listed Arthur Dewhurst of
youngster finished fourth last year be-
hind Martak, Wyer and De Bruyn, a
great showing in race of its class.
Another dangerous local runner Is
William Greiner of the Washington
Track and Field Club. Greiner has
been training for months for the race
and is expected to be a formidable
factor.
MANY marathon experts were pre-
lvl dieting a new world record, but
Pawson, holder Of the present
mark, expressed doubt whether his
name would be linked with the record,
II any was to be set. This, despite that
he established his mark on a hilly
course and against an adverse wind
and today will be running over route
pronounced almost ideal.
Not competitor here last year, Paw
son was told by 1882 entrant that the
course seemed a bit long. However. 1t
was measured by American Automobile
Association officials and with the most
accurate Of instruments down to almost
the exact inch.
Had the Boston marathon course a
few years ago been measured more &C
curately, Pawson might not have been
the world record holder today. The Paw
tucket youth, in discussing courses and
records, reminded that John Miles, a
Canadian, a few years ago ran the Bos-
ton race in hours and 25 minutes.
However, it was discovered the course
was ITO yards short and the record was
not allowed
There is no danger Of record time in
today's race not being recognized II the
runner sticks to the prescribed and
carefully laid out route.