Athletics of To-Day 1929

rr8 Athletics of To-day Hefferon, nearly a mile ahead, looked all over a winner, and at twenty-four miles (2 /33/28) was still leading. But at Wormwood Scrubbs, where tf1e prison warders lined the walls to watch the race, a drink was handed to the South African, while it is said that another enthusiastic spectator drenched him with a bucket of water, and there is yet another rumour that he was given a strong stimulant. The truth of these tales will never be known, but from that point Hefferon began to peter out. He had run his twenty-second mile in 8 mins. 22 secs., with Dorando coming up and showing 7 mins. 58 secs. over the same section of the course. The Italian was catchina up fast, and Hayes was perhaps a mile behind him, with Welton and Forshaw, the other Americans, not far away. Just before Wormwood Scrubbs both Dorando and Hayes passed the outh African, and with twenty-four miles covered Dorando made the fatal mistake of trying to run clean away from the American. At the Stadium the late Queen Alexandra and nearly roo,ooo spectators, the largest number that has ever attended an athletic meeting in England, awaited the arrival of the runners. Dorando reached the cinder path so nearly unconscious that he turned to his right instead of to the 1 ft. His mistake was corrected, but he collapsed immediately. Doctors and attend– ants rushed to him, but he was not removed from the track, for every one felt that h should not be deprived of the laurels he had so nearly won. And so he was allowed to get up and stagger on for another fifty yards, when he collapsed again, but again he was helped up, only to fall once more and be picked up and almost carried past the winning post. His time was 2 hours 54 mins. 46i secs., and half a minute after he had breasted the tape Hayes appeared and completed the course in 2 hours 55 mins. r8 secs., H fferon finishing next in 2 hours 56 mins. 6 secs. Not unnaturally both m n lodged protests, and Dorando was disqualified on the grounds that he had received help. The Queen, however, much affected by the sight she had witnessed, presented Dorando with a gold cup to commemorate his extra-