Run to Win

Don Gehrmann, a pressagent for the American Automobile Association, and Fred Wilt, a plain agent for the FBI, know the turnstile value of a few well-chosen words. For three years they have been close competitors, chasing each other around the indoor track circuit in the mile run. Last week, after Gehrmann had beaten Wilt, by a matter of feet, for the second straight night, the milers began a battle of words.

Gehrmann started it by remarking to a reporter: "Wilt wasn't going so fast in that last quarter; I had to cut my stride twice to prevent running over him." Wilt, who sets the pace, usually to see Gehrmann beat him (13-4) with a sprint in the final strides, lost no time replying: "That's a lot of bunk ... I go all out in these races and run to the best of my ability. I don't think Gehrmann does . . . Why doesn't he take over the pace and show the public his best? . . . He is a parasite."

Gehrmann obliged the press with a quick counterblow: he runs, he said, to win, and "not to set any spectacular times or to break records ... As for my ... staying back most of the way, I believe the crowd enjoys seeing a sprint finish..." Then Don added pointedly: "Any time Fred wants to jump back into the two miles, where he belongs, that's O.K. with me."

Sportwriters loved every word of it. So did the buzzing crowds last week at Madison Square Garden as the two runners lined up for the Wanamaker Mile. Before the race began, Good Friends Gehrmann and Wilt solemnly shook hands.

At the start, instead of dashing as usual into the pacesetter's role, Wilt hung back. Gehrmann, as usual, stuck to Wilt. The pace produced a stodgy (2:07.9) half-mile, and a stodgier (3:12.3) three-quarters. At the three-quarters mark, Wilt spurted into the lead, leaving Gehrmann some seven yards behind. Wilt blazed the last quarter in 58.9. It was quite a sprint but Gehrmann, setting his sights on Wilt's back, gradually made up the yardage. He nabbed Wilt three yards from the finish, nipped him by 6 in. at the tape.

The winning (and second-place) time: 4:11.2. Though the clocking was disappointingly slow--Gehrmann beat Wilt in the same race last year in 4:07.5--Gehrmann proved to have the right idea about what the crowd likes. His sprint finish had it screaming for him.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.