THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 260, 27 July 1908, Page 7

THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

« MARATHON RACE. HOMERIC STRUGGLE TO THE TAPE. GREAT FINISHES. (iiY TELEGRAPH —PRESS 'ASSOCIATION—COFYRI3IIT.) London, July 25. Following are additional results of tho Olympic Games 200 Metres (218 yards) Flat Race. R. Kerr (Canada) won this event in 22 2-5 sec., which is 4-ssec. slower than Olympio record time, which was established by Halm (America). The winner; who is of Irish parentage, has resided in Canada since childhood. He is 25 years of age, stands sft. 9in. in height, and weighs, in condition, 1421b. In 1902, the year in which he commenced running, the was unable to traverse lDOyds. in less than 10 3-ssec.; now he is the .unchallenged Canuck champion, and a consistent lOsec. man. Ho has won tho 100 yds. and 220 yds. championships of Canada for three years in 'succession. _ Last year the Canadian sprinter was twice timed in 9 4-sscc. Altogether, he has won upwards of 200 prizes. His best distance is 220 yds., whioh he haß traversed in 21 2-ssec. A trifle slow at getting away, he'is a very strong finisher. 400 Metres (437 yards) Flat Race. There was a great sensation over tho running of the final in this event. Carpenter (America) bored and elbowed W. Halswell (Britain) almost off the track, and the judges broko tho tape, and declared the race void. They subsequently disqualified Carpenter, and ordered the other' three men in the final to race on Saturday in strings. Halswell was the British quarter-milo amateur champion in 1005 and 190G, V and Scottish amateur champion at both lOOyds. and 220 yds. in 1907. He was the pick of the British athletes at Athens in 1906, and was unfortunate in not winning the 410 metro race there. 200 Metres (218 yards) Teams' Running Raco. Australasia dofoated Denmark in tho first heat. England won the final, Hungary being second and Australasia third. Marathbn .Race of 28 miles. Dorniido (Italy) finished first; Hayes (America) second; Hefferon (South Africa) third. Tho race was awarded to Hayes, becauso within tho Stadium Dorando, who fell thrice, was helped by admirers. IlefloYou was awar-, ded second place, and Foreshaw (America) third. Dorando covered the distance in2hrs. 54min. 46scc.; Hayes in 2hrs. 57mih. 46sec. (Rec. July 26, 4.15 p.m.) London, July 25. Eighty thousand pcoplo, including Queen Alosandra, witnessed tho finish in the Stadium/ Thero was great excitement. Fifty-fivo started from tho East' Terraco at Windsor, tho Princess of Wales and hor children being among tho spectators. Tho raco was run under a hot sun. English competitors led to 15 miles, when Hefferon, South Africa, took tho lead, varying from half a mile to a milo, which ho retained to Wormwood Scrubs, about a mile and a half from tho Stadium. Dorando's Pluch. ■ Hero Dorando (Italy), who had been lying second from tho. 15th milo, passed him, as did Hayes (America), who had assumed, third position at 20 miles.'

. On reaching tho entranco to the Stadium, Dorando staggoringly ran 100 yards on the under track, thon collapsed, but subsequently walked a fow more yards, when ha again collapsed. ' . His compatriots frantically coaxed aud implored Dorando, who rose, but fell again twice, the last time only 100 yards from .the tape. As Hayes, who was running steadily, entered tho Stadium, 350 yards away, officials and doctors resuscitated Dorando, who, with nssistanco, struggled to within 20 yards of tho tape,,whero he fell, but, rising again, just managed to reach tho tapo unassisted. Then ho fell senseless into a stretcher. Not counting Dorando, Welton (Amorica) was fourth; Wood, Simpson, and Lawson (Canadians) next, Svanberg (Sweden) eighth. Britishers and Australians. Clarke, tho best of tho Britishers, camo twelfth, 20 minutes . behind tho winner. Twenty-soven finished tho course, the last ono being 87 minutes behind the winner. J. M. Lynch (N.S.W.) retired at five miles," and Geo. Blake (Victoria), at 5i miles, after falling owing to a scramblo whilo taking refreshments. W. V. Aitkon (Victoria), running strongly, was sixth at 15 miles, fifth at 20, and fourth at 21 miles, where ho was ovorcomo by a sleepy fit, and retired on the advice of tho doctor. All tho Australians are now fully recovered.

Dorando Btatbs that he felt all right until he reached tho Stadium, when the cheering overcame him, but he nover lost consciousness. Ho believos that ho could have finished unaided if tho doctor had not ordered tho attendants to pick him up. Dorando is a frail little figure, though ho is the holder of" the 20 kilometres championship of Italy. \ Winner and Second Man. Hayes, who is aged 24, and who is a clerk in a New.' York dry goods store, was second ' in the Boston Marathon race. He declares that ho felt fresh at the end. Hayes's time was 2 hours 15min. 18sec. Hefferon was born in Canada, but went out to South Africa in 1900, and has been there over since. Ho is a long way the best distanco runner in South Africa. Ho has won the ono and four-milo championships of South Africa for fivo years in succession, his best time for tho milo' being 4rain. 32scc., and for four miles 1 20min. 51sec. 'Ho has run 25 miles on tho road inside 2hrs. 50min. at Bloemfontein. Ho is about 28 years of age, stands 6ft. Oin. in height, and weighs about lOst. Clb. Ho is in the Orango River Colony Government employment. His time was 2hrs. BCmin. 6sec. Later advices stato that Dorando waß almost blind from exhaustion. • Foreign officials lifted' hira on to his foot and passed him to tho tapo. Hayes was almost exhausted. Quoon Alexandra has decided personally to present a cup to Dorando, whom tho judges desenbo. as tho practical, though not tho do facto, winner. 1500 Metres (1639yd5.) Swimming Race. - There was a magnificent race in the final. H. Taylor (England) finished four yards ahead of T. S. Battersby (England), who defeated P. Beaurepairo (Victoria) by a yard.

They Swam shoulder to shoultlor throughout. The winner's timo was 22min. 48 2-sscc. Battersby continued, and boat tho English milo rceord, covering the distanco in 24min. 33sec.. ' Taylor's performances were described in Saturday's issue, in which it was announced that ho finished in tho semi-final 30 yards nheiul of-Boaurcpalro iu 22min, rtisco., a time which be has now reduced by. S Wseo,