ATHLETICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2463, 30 March 1909, Page 2

ATHLETICS.

DORANDO PIETRI WINS ST. LOUIS MARATHON.

ST. LOUIS, January 11. —Dorando Pietri won a “Marathon” race here, tonight, contesting with Percy Smallwood, of- Philadelphia, who quit the race after covering twelve miles and eight laps because of his left leg hurting him. Dorando ' made the twenty-six miles and 385 yards’in, 2, hours. 44min. 32 2-5 sec.—or ten seconds slower than the world’s indoor record. He finished strong.' _ SIX NATIONS THANK LONGBOAT’S MANAGER, TORONOTO, January 22.—A testimonial which T. C.i Flanagan values very highly comes to him from the Council of the Six Nations reserve. It is in part as follows : - - , . “The chiefs and people of the Six Nations tender to you, Mr T. C. Flanagan, ex-manager of the Nations’ famous warrior arid running wonder of the world, their most cordial and sincere thanks for your interest in one of their warriors, and for the many acts of real kindness you have shown hint during the time that you held the position of manager of the said Thomas Longboat. “We realise that it was through your constant care and attention that he attained the highest position as a runner in the. athletic world. : “We also further beg to thank voir for placing him. under tile able and capable management of Patrick Powers, of New York, who holds so eminent a position in International athletics, and who, no doubt, will lead him on to perform still greater deeds in the athletic field, and to add still more laurels to the glory not only of the Six Nations, but to the whole continent of America.”

THIS GIRL RUNS SIS MILES EVERY MORNING. Thus an ' Amei'ican correspondent: Little Ida Schnall, the pretty 18-year-old girl who the girls’ “Marathon” race at the Hesper Club ball, is an allround athlete of great ability. She covered the two .and a half miles in 12} min. And at that she wasn’t even breathing hard: “ 1 “I only had to beat seven girls,” said M:ss Schnall, £f and it was easy because I kept running continually, while the others-stopped, quit, and started again whenever they felt like it. I was fivo laps in the lead at the end of the race, and didn’t feel a bit tired. I run six miles regularly every morning, just to keep in training. I play baseball, basketball, wrestle, box, put the shot, and do all kinds of track athletics.”

[lf Little Ida ran miles in; 12min 30sec she was only 19 2-ssec outside the American record for a man (W. D. Day), for his figures stand at 12 10 3-5 sec ; but it is any reasonable odds that the course was about half a mile short. A “Marathon” over 2£ miles (or whatever it was) is not too had—but the use of the word “Marathon” has now been so overdone in the States as to become nauseating.] J;