Evening star., 1951-01-13
Mile Aces Among 400
Competing in CiN's
Greatest Track Show

IO1lglC III tIle I0urCn annual
Evening Star Games at the Ar
nory. The biggest exhibition of
'oot-racing ever seen here, with
100 athletes participating. is
scheduled to start at 1880 and
asst almost four hours.
Inability to get either broad
casting or television time will
Keep the meet off the airways.
Don Gehrmann, one of the
worlds top-ranking milers, and
Alf Holmberg, a likable Swedish
gentleman who is a student at
the University of Tennessee, flew
into town yesterday in time for
a round of radio and television
Gehrmann in 1851 Debut.
Observers rate the beSpectacled
Gehrmann, whose debated victory
over Fred Wilt kept the track
world stewing last winter, as the
present runner best equipped to
make the perennial assault on
the four-minute mile. The mod
est Don said. however, that he'll
be satisfied to win a few races
in good time.
Tonight's race will mark Gehr-
1851 debut, and it will be
watched closely by track fans all
over the country. Most think the
former University of Wisconsin
who is unattached in to-
nights meeting, is heading into
his best year on the boards.
Gehrmann, who does public rela-
tions work for the American Au-
tomobile Association in Milwau-
kee, has been training since De-
cember /, and although he ex.
poets to improve as the season
gees along, he says he's ready for
tonight's race.
Holmberg, who has no board
track to practice on at Tennessee,
proved his fitness by running off
with the Sugar Bowl mile in the
good time of AIS over a soggy
track.
Sorry Slykhuis Is Out.
Both expressed disappointment
that Willie Slykhuis of Holland
will not be here. Willie changed
his mind about expense money
yesterday and agreed to run in the
mile, but Dan Ferris. secretary Of
the National AAU, refused to
change his and declined to issue
a travel permit. They previously
had disagreed about an item of
So for Willie's daily incidentals,
in addition to $3.50 a day the AAU
was prepared to pay for his room
and meals.
Star Games officials looked for
Tom Kirwan. unattached; Curtis
Stone of the Shanahan Catholic
Club, and Johnny Stayton of Pur-
due to make it hot for both Gehr-
mann and Holmberg.
Two 11th-hour changes in the
were announced by Do"-
'ey Griffith, director of the meet.
John Joe Barry, colorful Irishman
rom Villanova College and win
Ter of last years spectacular .
nile run, was forced to scratch
from that event because of illness.
But Nal Whitfield, torn between
the invitation 600-yard run and
Touchdown Club 1000, decided to
90 in the latter, there y setting
up another headline rae. Whit
field, Olympic and National AAU
300-meters champion. will be op-
posed by Ingvar Bengtsson. stand
out Swedish middle-dist ance rum
ner. among others. Bengtsson,
a fireman from the home town of
Gunnar Haag, another world
famous Swedish runner, should
give Whitfield a battle for the
trophy.
Competition Assured.
If he doesn't, Whitfield can look
for enough competition from
Frank Efflnger of Yale, George
Thompson of Villanova, John Will
son of the Shanahan Club and
Earl Grimm of the Baltimore
Olympic Club to keep him hustling.
Whitfleld's withdrawal from the
500 doesn't detract from that race,
not with Arthur Wint, long strid-
ing Jamaican, and George Rhoden,
Morgan State College star, fight
ing it out for the prize. Johnny
voight, unattached. and Jim Nc
Kenna of Villanova also are in
the field, and there is a chance
that John Pennler Of Providence
College and Dave Boland of
Georgetown will start. The eX-
perts figure the winner will be
the man who gets out in front at
the start.
The invitation sprint series,
matching the cream of the dash
men on the Eastern Seaboard
against Macdonald Bailey of
Great Britain, is another possible
show-stealer. Henry Thresher,
Mercersburg Academy youngster
who skyrocketed to prominence by
the series last winter, will
defend his crown. His opposition
also will include Buddy Fowlkes,
Sugar Bowl 100-yard winner in
81 seconds.
Women Make Meet Debut.
Women will compete for the
first time in the games with two
events. a 70-yard hurdles race and
440-yard relay, arranged for them.
Every one of the q events on