Centuries

Seldom in U. S. track history have there been so many great exponents of track's most popular event--the 100-yd. ("century") dash--as there are today. Last fortnight at the N. A. A. U. meet in Denver most of them were assembled-- Claude Bracey, Frank Wykoff, George Simpson, Eddie Tolan, Russell Sweet. Simpson, holder of the world's unofficial record (9 4/10 sec.) pulled a tendon, was unable to run. Eddie Tolan, Michigan's little bespectacled Negro, slipped ahead of Bracey and Sweet and won the race. But a strong headwind had been blowing. Tolan's time, 10 sec., was far from brilliant. A bigger, better race was expected the next Saturday (last week) when all the dashers but Simpson met in Vancouver at an invitation meet. Also present in Vancouver was Canada's fleet Percy Williams, Olympic 100-meter champion, who had stayed away from the Denver meet because of its high altitude. Williams, casual, is not the kind of racer who breaks records unless he has to. He prefers to race just fast enough to stay ahead, if that is possible. He is also one of the very few sprinters who can change his stride in so short a distance as 100 yards.

Last week at the gun-crack Williams started ahead. Tolan, Bracey, Wykoff drew alongside of him. Fifteen yards from the finish line, Williams was ahead again. Tolan made one of his famed last-second bursts. But Williams' chest was first to touch the taut worsted.

Again it was an unsatisfactory result. Tolan and Wykoff both doubted the decision. The Vancouver track was soft. Williams' time was only 9 8/10 sec.

This week at Seattle will be another chance for ;'the century of the century." All the U. 5. men except lame Simpson, will be there to race against last week's Winner Williams.