Evening star., 1952-07-26
Campbell, Simmons
Are Second and Third
With ) Events Left
by the Associoted Press

HELSINKI. July 26. - Three
American athletes appeared head
ed for a one-two-three sweep to-
day in the Olympic Games tough
est test. the decathlon.
Bob Matthias, 21-year-old de-
Tending champion from Tulare,
Calf, was way out in front after
seven of the decathlon's 10 events
with a total of 6,099 points.
Milton Campbell, 18-year-old
high school youngster from Plain
field, N. j., was second with 5.704
points, and Floyd Simmons of
Pasadena, Calf, who was third
in the 1948 Olympic decathlon.
was again in third place with
5,303.
Frenchman Forced Out.
The prospects of an American
sweep were enhanced when Ignace
Heinrich of France, who was sec
ond in 1948, had to drop out of
the running today with an injured
ankle.
Sepp Hipp of Germany moved
up to take the fourth place vacat-
ed by Heinrich, with an official
total of 5.043 points. Kjell Tan
nander of Sweden was running
fifth at this stage with 1929 and
Goran Widenfelt, a Swede who is
a student at the University OF
Washington, was sixth with 1923
With the 110-meter high hur-
dies and the discus throw out OF
the way, only three events re-
NAMED to be disposed of this
afternoon. These were the pole
vault, javelin throw and 1900
meter run. There seemed little
likelihood that any one could
overtake the Americans or that
either Campbell or Simmons coulo
catch up with Matthias.
The weather was cold anC
cloudy and there was light
drizzle as the decathlon fielc
knocked off for lunch.
| Field Cut to ~.
The field had dwindled to q
at the start of the afternoon
events. Besides Heinrich, Georges
Breitmann, also of France, had
dropped out.
Intermittent showers made II
difficult in the pole vaulting phase
of the decathlon as the poles
quickly became slippery.
Matthias didn't start vaultine
until the cross bar was nearly al
III feet. Matthias and Campbell
both missed their first tries at 3.4(
meters I'll feet 1876 inches). Sim
mons got over on his first attempt
to assure himself of at least ATE
points in this event.
| After taking a hard fall on his
second try at II feet 1876 inches
Campbell missed his third vault
and had to be content with 43s
points for his successful vault o1
10 feet 9.92 inches. Matthias sue
cessfully cleared the greater
height on his second attempt.
Campbell rubbed his shoulder
after his fall and it appeared he
might have hurt himself.
Matthias Whole Show.
Matthias, although trailing his
own world record pace, was al
most the whole show during the
morning. He ran his heat in the
11O-meter hurdles in 14.7 seconds
good for 813 points, and threw
the discus 153 feet 1905 inche:
for 838 more. At the same stage
in the American tryouts, he hac
scored 6,208 points en- route to q
world record total of 1925 points
Heinrich's injury was crue
blow to great athlete. The
Frenchman was in contendins
position with some of his beS
events still to come.
He twisted his ankle in thu
high jump yesterday. Although
limping badly, he made a gallan
effort to continue today by strug'
Cling through the hurdles. H,
did it in Is seconds, which is SLOW
for him but creditable for man!
decathlon competitors. 1t left hin
sstill in fourth place.
But then Heinrich had to Civ
up. His ankle was badly swollel
and he could hardly walk.
Matthias also was wearing
support around his left thigh II
iprotect a sore spot. He insisted
however, that he would be al
, right-and he went on to prove it