Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-23
Russians Finish
t-2-3in Speed
Skating Sprint
Americans Second
To ltuIiun Sled as
Olympic TrioIs Open


To ltuIiun Sled as
Olympic Triols Open
coRTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy
Jan. % (R-If Cortina's hard
ice and melting SHOWS hold out
for three more days. the 1856
Winter Olympics promise to be
the fastest and perhaps the most
hazardous on record.
The games open officially
Thursday, although the first
events Of the Today spectacle
are not scheduled until Friday
But already records and bones
have been shattered In this little
resort which Is swarming with
the worlds greatest skiers, skat-
ers and bobsledders.
While veteran experts won
dered who would be injured next
land they freely predicted there
would be more casualties-the
international Olympic Commit
tee began tts annual meeting.
Nothing startling was, ex-
pected to be forthcoming, al
though Avery Brundage of Chi
cago. president Of the inter-
national committee, said the
"perplexing" question of tele-
Ivising the games would be dis
cusSed.
More Records Fall
More records fell yesterday on
the ice Of Lake Misurina, high
in the mountains above Cortina,
and on the hazardous. twisting
bobsled run just outside town.
Russia's Eugeniy Grishin
bettered the world 50o-meter
speed skating record with a
breath-taking clocking Of 40.2
seconds. six-tenths Of q second
better than the old mark. One
of his teammates also bettered
the record while another tied it,
q remarkable display Of Russia s
skating prowess. William A,
Carow Of Madison, Wis, trailed
the Russians close l-2-3 finish
by taking fourth in 0:41.3.
Some other contestants said
Grishin jumped the gun and an
oficial admitted there might
have been a bad start. The
question will be studied, but
even so. most experts agreed
Grishin would have done 4o.5
with q normal start.
The Italians, who are working
on their home" course, cracked
both the two-man and four
man bobsled marks for the
l.700-meter run yesterday.
Bobsled Trials Open
And today Italy's Eugenio
Monti piloted his two-man bob
sled to q split-second lead over
Americas Bud Washbond in the
FIRST ofncial elimination races
for the Winter Olympics.
Italy'S little ex-ski champion
drove his garish red and yellow
sled down Cortina's 1.700-meter
course (109 yards more than q
mile) In minute. 22.56 seconds
after setting a course record Of
1:22.3 80 in an earlier trial run.
Washbond. a gaugemaker from
East Hartford. Conn.,. plunged
down the l6-curve> track in
ll:22.s1. the best time ever by q
non-Italian on the run.
Bobsledders from IL nations
competed In the opening day of
Examinations designed to pare the
25-sled entry list to 20.
Each sled drove one oficial
heat today after a purely prac-
tice trial run. Each will drive
another of1icial run tomorrow
and the Examinations are based
on the best total times for two
heats.
No. : U. s. Sled Fifth
Umberto Dalla Costa, also of
Italy. placed third In l:23.48.
After making q brilliant half
way time Of 1913 seconds, Ameri-
cas- Art Tyler skidded on a curve
and finished in 1:24.53-good for
NTH place. Tyler, of Rochester.
N. Y, is the No. 2 American pilot
in the two-man sleds.
Meanwhile. skiers from is ma
Ttions have been practicing on the
steep. well prepared but icy
slopes Of Tofana Mountain for
the downhill and slalom events.
The bumpy. winding courses al
ready have taken . heavy toll in
injuries.
Leslie Streeter, United States
downhill skier, was the latest in
jury as he tumbled today and
broke his right shoulder. He is
out Of the games.
Sonia Sperl. l9-year -old Ger
man star who won the ladies'
downhill at Hahnenkamm, Au.
stria. two weeks ago, also
tumbled on the icy ski slopes
the German team physician said
she tore ligaments In her right
See OLYMPICS, Page ALI