Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-07
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS sTANh
Meredith and Memories


passing could have been overlooked by the wire
and the press this week Memories short and
the few sticks of type in most of the periodicals it
everybody expected to remember back As years
ago. But dad must have mentioned Ted Meredith. For
short time he bigger national sports hero than Jim
Thorpe. This early in the 1912 Olympic Games at
Stockholm.
In those days they weren't flashing event-by event
results via radio flying TV film documentaries. The
slower and when Meredith won the 800-meter
in Olympic and world record time he become an idol
Thorpe who really dominated the Games performed his
herocs later
The name Ted Meredith rolled easily off the tongue
Ted Meredith of the U. S. A. 1t sounded like Frank
Merriwell of Yale.
The track critics felt that Ted really James E.
Meredith had business winning the 500 meters
HE WAS ONLY 10 YEARS DID, a smalish (5-foot-9
1856 pound kid from Mercersburg Academy in PennSyl
vana His forte supposed to be the 400 meters But in
this event he took the lead and faded Ted failed to place
Charlie Redpath of Syracuse won in 48.2 seconds.
If Meredith failed to the AGO. asked the experts
why considered seriously for the 800? He
going up against the great Melvin Sheppard of America
plus Emilio Lungh Italy holder of the world record for
the half-mie and Hans Braun of Germany.
From all accounts, it must have been a remarkable
Sheppard famous Olympic champion off his vic
in the 800 and $500 meters in the 1908 London
Games got off first The fact that he jumped out in front
of Meredith represented feat Ted sylist, what
with his aying But at least he had an exceptional
getaway In his abortive 400 effort he took the lead.
But this historic 800 Sheppard got out in front In
the hoestrech Braun found himself pocketed by the two
Americans. "He obliged to on the outside read
account. He braun made great bid for victory,
carrying Meredith with him."
NEAR THE FINISH Braun weakened and Meredith
passed Sheppard The Mercersbug shooboy continued to
the half mile and broke the world record with 15l9
for distance complete sweep for Uncle Sam
Meredith, Sheppard and Ira Davenport in that order
Ted enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania when he
returned from Stockholm He exceptionally well as
colegian setting couple of world records But in 1917 he
called quits joined the Army Signal Corps aviation
section and flew combat the German lines.
His retirement was about permanent Joe Louis.
1920 there Games in 16 account of the war;
Ted turned up Antwerp Belgium Meredith 81 years
old, and he no standout in the Games.
In the l5O0-meter relay the Americans were
beaten by Britain South Africa and France Mere
dith for experienced and capable u S. team made
up of E. Eby, j E Meredith r. Emery and F. ]. Shea
according to Alexander M, Weyand, Olympic historian
Its performance was not up freshman standards in
the United States" added Weyand, himself member
of the 1920 squad.
THUS THE MEMORY of Ted Meredith dmmed Dur
ing the Games in IL it Jim Thorpe who emerged as
the No. personality. In 20 1t was Charles W. PADDOCK
the worlds fastest human
There was little left for Meredith who died at 81
day after Charley Caldwell the great Princeton football
coach, who also product of Mercersburg
Once on the subject of Mercersburg, you're apt to
think of lot of real good athletes Meredith and
Caldwell How about another l9year-old kid who wore
"Mercersburg" on his jersey in The Star Games in 1850
and swept the sprint series-the TO- 80 and 100?
Henry Thresher his name. Track critics couldn't
see how he could miss Then polio struck ThreSher went
to Yale recovered degree, but he merely Ivy
League Splinter.
Thresher didn't make it big. Meredith did. But
Meredith forgotten pretty fast