Evening star., 1940-01-12
BY DANIEL ]. FERRIS,
Secretary Treasurer. Amateur Athletic
Union,

OulOu.
NEW YORK, Jan. 12.-Though at
first it seemed that the likely can
collation. of the 1910 olympic games
would be severe blow to the years
track and field program, 1t now ap-
pears that American athletes as
well as fans are in for a banner
year of competition, both indoors
and out.
Undoubtedly there will be inter-
national competition, in the form
of Pan-American games, even If
Finland does not stage the Olympics.
Cuba plans an abbreviated series OF
games-basket ball, track and field,
swimming and boxing included-in
late February and early March; Ar.
gentina has issued invitations for a
full Olympic program in November
and here In the United States In
all likelihood there will be summer
games.
Although fewer track and field
records than usual were set in 1899.
competition was unusually keen.
These two trends should continue
hand-in-hand in 1910.
Better Competition Likely.
The only way one can account for
the lack of new records is that
standards already are so high that
only super athletes can improve on
them. Still, races and competitions
this year should be more sensa-
tional than ever, since the number
OF athletes Of outstanding ability
is increasing by leaps and bounds
in all fields.
Take the most popular track
events as good examples. Glenn
Cunningham was the unquestioned
ruler at the mile. But he is such
no longer. On any given night this
winter he may be defeated by
Chuck Fenske or Archie San Romani
or Louis Zamperini or Blaine Ride
out or even the New York U. sopho-
more star, Leslie MacMitchell, and
1t will be no great shock either to
the experts or the spectators.
There are three men, incidentally
who should make this one of the
most interesting of all seasons for
mile races. They are Zamperini,
the California lad, who will be ap-
pearing on the indoor circuit for
the first time; MacMitchell, rated
one Of the best prospects to carry
on where and when Cunningham
leaves of, and Luigi Beccan, Olym-
pic 1,5O0-meter winner at Los An
geles in 1882.
The italian has been running even
longer than Cunningham. That,
however, should by no means be
taken as an indication that he is
through. To prepare for his first
season in the colors Of the New
York A. c., Beccaii took up cross
country running last fall.
Two-mile Mark Menaced.
The better distribution of power
at the mile holds true in other
events. At 2 miles Don Lash will
face terrific competition from Tom
my Deckard, Greg Rice, Walter
Mehl, Forrest Efaw and Ralph
Schwartzkopf, among others. In
the half-mile John Borican, John
Woodruff, Curtis Giddings, Campbell
Kane and Charley Beetham all
must be reckoned with, and in the
440 to 600 yard field there are John
Quigley, Wes Wallace, Jim Herbert,
Erwin Miller, Roy Cochrane, Jack
Sulzman, Harold eagle and Donald
Watts.
Another factor that may con-
tribute considerably to making this
a standout indoor season is the
likely importation of Taisto Maxi
Of Finland, the worlds No. / runner
at distances from 5000 to 10000
meters.
Even without Maki's presence, the
2-mile record of 8::58, now held by
Lash, is the indoor mark most like
ly to be lowered before the last
OF the seasons board-track meets.