Evening star., 1937-06-07

AN StAItlnS 4,OOO-mlle race
v v against time for the oppor-
tunity to challenge them,
the leading marathon runners OF tho
United States look today to The Eve
ming Star race next Saturday for tho
National A. A. U. championship.
Rios, South American top Fighter.
leaves Rio de Janeiro today by air.
plane with five-day sky ride and
With no complete day on terra flrma
between him and the race. He Is be-
ing sponsored by the Pan-American
Exposition which will open at Dallas,
Tex. on the date of the Washington
contest.
One OF the strongest fields in re-
cent years Is expected to oppose the
PERUVIAN who was the first South
American to finish in the Olympic
marathon at Berlin and who spranR
TO fame sensationally in 1885 by win
ming the South American Champion
ship after slowing away on the boat
that carried the Peruvian track team
TO the continental games In Chile,
The Peruvians believed him a bluff
when he volunteered to represent them
IN the marathon, which he won to be
Merriwel hero
Champ Is Out Of It.
THE first three United States citi-
3ens to finish In SATURDAYS race
will carry the Yankee standard In the
Pan American Olympics at Dallas
against the distance men Of 2l other
countries, the marathon being the
climatic feature OF the closing night
OF the games, July 18.
Bill Mcmahon OF Worcester, Mass
who Won the national title here last
year, will default it, having married
and quit the sport.
Among those who are expected TO
Try Tor the crown and places on the
United States pan-American team are:
Johnny Kelley, 1896 winner of the
Boston marathon and many other stiff
races; Tarzan Brown Of Rhode Island.
the only runner who has won two
marathons (26 miles 3s5 yards) on
successive days; Mel Porter, Millrose
A. c. star of New York; Pat Denais
OF Baltimore, who won the national
title in 1885, and a host of lesser
stars, including Paul de Bruyn, former
German champion.
komonen Coming Down,
nAVE KOMONEN, sensational little
Finn, who alone has won the
washington race twice-in 1898 and
ls34is coming down from SUDBURY
Canada. 300 miles north Of the border
TO try again. With Komonen, from
Sudbury, and Rios, from Peru, the
gallop Saturday takes in a lot O,
territory. The finish of the race.
starting at Mount Vernon, home Of
George Washington, and ending at the
white House, probably between 4:35
and 4:45 I'm. eastern standard time)
Will be broadcast by Station WMAL
OF the National Broadcasting Co, DR..
Leo S. Rowe, president of the Pam
American Union. will speak briefly on
the mike.
One OF the most popular entrants
IN the big race is Mel Porter of the
Mlllroee Athletic Club Of New York.
and he is one Of the most feared
Porter Is Confident.
nURING the last four wears
writes Porter, I've been among
the first three in your race and
nope to make the grade again. I'd
IKE to win for change and knock
that course record for a loop. II
feel as good as I did on my last work.
out, at 20 miles Wednesday, I beljev,
I will do it."
Several years ago the old marathon
master, Clarence De Mar OF Keene
N. H., was reported as winding up his
career But the grand veteran. in 4
letter today, said he might take an.
other turn over the Washington
course. He finished second In .
Memorial day run at Salisbury Beach.
Mass.
Although plans for the mara thon
have been complete for some time. a
meeting OF the Race Committee Will
be held tonight at 8 o'clock at Ths
Star sports department to check
details.