Sport: Britain v. U. S.

Britain v. U.S.

Jimmy De Mers of the Los Angeles A. C. threw his arm out of joint the first time he tossed the javelin. That was too bad for him but a good thing for the British Empire v. U.S. track meet at Soldier Field, Chicago, last week. It made things exciting for a while. De Mers had been considered certain to win the javelin-throw, and his winning was counted on to give the U. S. a point it would need. One event seemed certain to be won by the British team—the one-mile medley relay, for little Eddie Genung would never have a chance in the last lap against big Tom Hampson. With this and the javelin-throw the British Empire might get a tie. The runners got set for the medley. Pete Bowen, best of U. S. quarter-milers, gained a slight advantage over Alex Wilson of Canada. He fumbled giving the baton to Eddie Tolan and ten yards were lost. But then George Simpson, Ohio State’s “Buckeye Bullet,” cut five yards off the lead and little Genung started after Hampson. He caught him at 440 yd., passed him in the backstretch, finished 70 yd. ahead. Then the crowd found out that De Mers’ single javelin-throw had been 198 ft. 4½ in., 8½ ft. short of New Zealander Stan Lay’s, but giving the U. S. a winning total of 594 ft. ½ in. With the other events going as had been expected, and eight meet records broken (but no world records), the U.S. had an easy win, 9 points to 5.