Red Runners

To Austin, Tex., came Jose Torres, Augustin Salido, Tomas Zafiro, Lola Cuzarare, her sister Juanita. All are famed Tarahumara Indian runners of Mexico. They were to perform for the white men at the University of Texas games to substantiate nebulous reports of their prowess.

At 3:19 a. m. the three men started from San Antonio over the concrete road to Austin, 89.4 miles away. Cool of dawn gave way to scorching heat of day as the runners loped easily along at a pace that would have frightened a Finn. After covering 30 miles Salido, sickened by fumes of automobiles which lined the road, succumbed to cramps; Zafiro and Torres, less sensitive, continued.

At 6:12 p. m. astonished thousands gathered in the university stadium, at Austin beheld two shining redmen enter the gate, cross the finish line, apparently still capable of more. They had covered the 89.4 miles in exactly 14 hr., 53 min.

Lola Cuzarare, 14, won a shorter event for women, accomplishing 28% miles in 4 hr. 42 min. Her sister, Juanita, 16, mother of several children, had given up within sight of the goal. Lola evinced lack of fatigue by adding a few unnecessary laps in the stadium proper.

Texans were convinced of the Indians' stamina; were interested when the runners took on food and water without slackening pace.