Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-05-02
SP 0 R IS SLANT IS
A - as @
By Lucius Melancholy Jones
Leo Tarrant's Spectacular Upset Win In
18th Annual Penn Relays Another Big
Boost To SAC Stock; Xavier Clicks

NOT so MANY YEARS AGO. the Southern Interco-
legiate Athletic Conference nonenty bg-time track
True the Tuskegee Relays widely known-but
back this knowledge restricted less to coored
folk especially those close to athletics Record breakers in
the Tuskegee Relays during the early days of the coorfu
track and field carnival entered in the major
meets OF the country Consequently white cinderpath
flclas rating whatever to times and distances
ascr1bed to alleged Negro greats"
Only coored stars like Eddie ToIan of Michigan Jesse
owens of Ohio State Cornelius Johnson Compton Junior
College Edward Gordon of Iowa. Euace Peacock of Tempe
Ralph Mecafe of Marquette Willis Ward of Michigan and
other recordsping Negroes representing ma or white col
ieges received nod In the National AA IC4A NC2A Penn
and Drake Relays ~
Some of these fortunate enough not only to repre
sent ther country in the Olympic Gabes but to win first
pi"ce ana 70 break records as well.
Ceve L. Abbott, veteran athletic director at T,Lnoo
institute deserves most of the credit for putting the SAC
on the clnderpah At least the conference would have
Tar longer working way respect and recognition
bolt. e p ~ 1Ao-
Abbott William OShelds, and Moze Ellerbe the Hast
1ngs Florida, Howtzer paved the way
Eherbe won the Tuskegee Relays in 95 seconds lust
tenth OF second higher than the Iongterm record of 81
In the 100 yard DASH The big track and field officials
weren't impressed in the least They considered the timing
spurious.
Thel later Elerbe the Kansas Invitatona 100 in
after that the NC2A in &c. throwing the STAG 100 and
@zo IN 30 and zoe respectively for good measure
Ihe Hdton I1naly ACCLAIMED the boy and same
token took the position that the Tuskegee timers knew their
business after aor else the stopwach manipuIaors At
e NozA s7nsas snational and National AAU
no better And Of course they consider themselves good
Therefore, they reasoned that those at Tuskegee were re-
liable too -
That the making STAG in the eyes of officials
of the various major meets of the country and the track
world at large.
Norman Holiness Atlanta Georgia boy who made A
name for himself at Florida A. college at Tallahassee
brought the STAG recognition when after baggng the
SAC 100 and 220 he copied the Central AAU Milwaukee
Wisconsin with Marquette University Ralph Metcalfes al
ma mater, as host. His time 81.
Xavier has swollen the pride of the STAG boundessIy
IN repeated first place performances in the Penn and Drake
Relays by way of Lburn (Joe Lous) Williams AlI-Ameri
can football tackle who set the Tuskegee Relays
STAG shoput records and broke the old at Drake
Relays in 1889 with heave feet, 34 inches Lloyd
Thompson Josh williamson both of whom have won the
high Jump in major white meets; Glider Farrow winner in
the 400 meter hurdles at the Penn Relays Eddie Cup
Relays Junior 1500 meter champion; also by way of
those crack Gold Rush quarterme and half mile relay
which have placed the finals of the Penn Relays for three
straight years.
Tuskegees crack mile relay foursome of Raymond Head
Marvin Fretwel Louis (Red) Slade and Upshaw (Bald
Eage Sans enhanced STAG prestige by winning the Class
"B mile relay at the Penn Relays, having placed in the
event two other The Tuskegee girls have the
National AAU Womens Outdoor and Indoor Track and Field
Championships for long that the other contestants
losing interest.
Now, Alabama State Teachers college at Montgomery
has come along to make her special contribution to STAG
prestige Leo Tarrant the former Westfied High lad from
Birmingham, is the of the hour.
Winner of more than two dozen in his to
date with 100 yard dash time of 965 seconds
Tarrans major wins prior to last Saturday the Cen
trail AAU doubles in the STAG Tuskegee and Prairie View
meets in which he both the 100 and 220 and hot
ond in the Drake Relays last after winning his trial
heat in 9,7. -
Eerbe set the Tuskegee Relays record of 95 in the 100
in 1899 and the year, hang up the 95 and 81 flat
figures for the 100 and 220 in the Prairie View meet Tar
proved his caiber by equallng both marks day
The Prairie View Relays 940 The year he equaed
Elerbes 9.5 again in the STAG in Atlanta.
Ii Saturday. though that Tarrant really reach
ed his peak winning the coveted Penn Relays 100 in
81 after quang the Penn Relays record Of in his semi
final heat He had upset the meet avorite Norwood H.
Barney Ewel of Penn State in each Both qualified
in the semifinals. Ewel was second in the finals.
1IICIr npTO