Glendale Junior College News -- September 26, 1928

WYKOFF ATTENDS JUNIOR COLLEGE

News that Frank Wykoff, the "Glendale Greyhound," and the fastest human in the United States, was to attend Glendale Junior College came as a decidedly pleasant surprise to Jewell City track enthusiasts.  Frank made this decision because of his desire to spend another season under his developer and coach, Normal C. Hayhurst.  The advent of Wykoff, along with many other former Dynamiter cinder stars, boosts track stock at G. J. C. sky high.  When Wykoff registered recently it meant a certain ten points in any meet to Glendale J. C.

The mercury footed sprinter has had a meteoric career, the winning of the title "America's best" this year being the highest point he has reached on his brilliant ride to fame.  Wykoff earned this title when he showed his heels to the best Uncle Sam had to offer in the hundred at Boston (Massachusetts 7-7-28), where the trials were held to determine who would represent the United States at Amsterdam.  On this occasion Frank performed the almost unbelievable feat of equaling the recognized Olympic hundred meter record of 10 3/5s. four times in one afternoon.

Last season Frank finished up a scintillating prep track career at Glendale high school, where he captained the Dynamiters.  Here are a few of his accomplishments while in high school: 

Wykoff while in school was considered by outsiders as "just another high school marvel" who only ran in phenomenal time

when timed by his own coaches.  It was not until he entered the "race of the century" last June (6-16-28 - Los Angeles, CA) that he had a real chance to shine against (?) time competition.  How Frank came through to a decisive victory on one of the greatest fields ever assembled for one race, including the king of sprinters, (Charley) Paddock, the perennial Pasadena (from Pasadena, CA), is now history.  Very different then was the tone of Los Angeles sports writers.  Only a second Lindbergh could have taken the praise and adulation that poured upon Frank Wykoff in the way in which it did.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Frank then stepped into the eyes of the world by trimming everyone at the American Olympics tryouts held at Boston.  This remarkable victory sent Frank to the Olympics (at Amsterdam, Holland, 1928) where although he was favored to win, he only placed fourth (in the 100 meter race -- Note:  however, Wykoff did win a Gold Medal in the 400 Meter Relay Race).

Already too many excuses have been made for the failure of Americans at Amsterdam, and Frank is not adding any more, but when a sprinter places fourth in a race run in one-fifth of a second slower time than he had fun four times in one afternoon on a rain soaked track, and many other times, it begins to look as though there was  (?) ..... However, when one inquires into things it seems a most wonderful thing that Frank placed at all.

Although he does not mention a bad tendon, this writer happens to know that Frank was unable to take a solitary workout from the time he ran at Boston until the day he entered the finals at Amsterdam.  When asked about his leg, Frank replied, "I don't want to make any excuses, there have been too many already."

(Note: U.S.A. athletes were confined to the boat -- as living quarters after docking in Amsterdam -- living conditions were unbearable)  Added to this handicap was, of course, the bad living quarters on the Roosevelt, the twenty minute ride over the canals in a pitching launch to the field, the rain soaked track, the strange manner of starting, and other things.

The Dutch had not done anything towards building the track when the American athletes arrived.  There was a hole in the intended location of the track.  Piles were hurriedly sunk, cinders placed over them, and a substance resembling red brick placed on top, giving when completed a fine track that to run upon closely resembled plowing through beach sand.   Percy Williams

(of Vancouver, Canada), the winner,  runs flat footed,  and only weighs 123 pounds, while the Americans, both heavier and running differently, sank into the track and were hopelessly mired.

"I got a bad start," says Frank, "but was leading at the half-way mark.  At the eighty-five meter mark I was last.  I couldn't lean forward because each time I would dig in, the loose track would throw me back."  The Dutch also had distinct ideas on the conduct of athletes.  Of course, no one was allowed to warm up on the track and there were also rules that the athletes were not to use the grass.  So runners, unless they resorted to the practice of making a break for the grass followed by an irate Dutchman, were forced to go into a race cold, after sitting in the rain on a freezing bench.  That America won at all seems remarkable.

Glendale turned out in masses to welcome Frank back home recently (9-04-28).  Everyone knows he did his best, and Glendale says that's enough. Glendale Junior College is indeed honored to have this famous athlete and splendidly clean and manly sportsman enrolled under its colors.

END

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  OTHER NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Concerning USA Athletes Complaints against

the 1928 Olympics at Amsterdam

1.  Athletes Harmed by Boat Quarters

2.   "Lack of Training Facilities"  at Amsterdam

3.  Track not ready for Athletes in Amsterdam

4.  Training on a voyage difficult