ATHLETICS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2522, 8 June 1909, Page 2

ATHLETICS

MARATHON “DERBY” IN NEW YORK.

The groat race, in New York on April 3 thoroughly deserved the title applied to it of the. “Marathon Derby,”

; „... ■krJSB says-the “Sporting Life.” Tho competitors were Allred Shrubb (England), Tom Longboat (Canada), Dorando Pietri (Italy), J. J. Hayes (America), Alat. Maloney (Ireland), and H. St. Yves (France). The usual enormous crowd was in attendance, and, indeed, six bettor drawing cards have never beefi brought together before. The race beig run on a six-lap grass track, in tlie open, there was no question of foul atmosphere to interfere with the , runners, though the track was decidedly on the heavy side'; indeed, before the. race was over it was more like a cross-country event. Contrary to his -usual practice, Shrubb did not race away at a breakneck paces in fact, tho men were content t-o let Saint Yves make the pace, which he d.d at a steady rate, the. others hanging on. In the eleventh mile Shrubb went up in tho front, and began to push matters. Saint Yves keeping up to his shoulder,, with Longboat and Dorando handy. Gradually the front pair drew away from the others, Dorando and then Longboat being dropped, and eventually lapped, as tho leaders .kept forcing one another along. Nearing tho 20 miles Shrubb was clearly in troub’e. Saint Yves was now leading, and maintaining a wonderful pace. There, were no slow miles, and •while the first twelve miles were run below tho mark set up by longboat on January 2 at Buffalo, the next four were run one minute faster, and the succeeding four —16 to 20 —nearly two minutes faster. This was too much for Shrubb, who began to lag behind, while Longboat bad had enough at 20 miles, and retired, although he still held the advantage over Hayes. Presently Shrubb was lapped by the Frenchman,., and he. made an effort to keep going with him, but he was evidently spent, and soon dropped into a walk, and lost another lap. ' ;■" ■ Tho race was now over, as Saint Yves though easing down a trifle, -kept moving in fine style, and, maintaining a long lead to the ond, won anyhow in 2hr 40min 50 3-ssec, which boats the previous best for American track Alarathons. Dorando passed Shrubb in the 25th mile, and then tho Englishman practically collapsed and retired, leaving Hayes and Maloney to- finish. third and fourth, the latter being beaten by the Olympic victor in the last stages of the race.