Storming the Citadel

By tradition, the Millrose Games annually begin the frantic swirl of big-time indoor track at Madison Square Garden. And by tradition, the event has been stag night for the competitors. But last week Millrose officials saw fit to schedule a special 60-yd. dash for the ladies. The reason: to give the New York track crowd its first look at Tennessee State's willowy Wilma ("Skeeter") Rudolph. 20. triple gold medal winner and the outstanding athlete at last summer's Olympic Games in Rome.

The minute she checked into town, Guest Star Rudolph began charming New Yorkers with one of the most remarkably relaxed personalities in all sport. By the hour, she patiently answered the same questions thrown at her by relays of newsmen ("Yes, Rome was my greatest experience. No, I have no plans to marry right away"). Delighted with the attention Wilma was getting, Tennessee State Track Coach Ed Temple said: "Skeeter never makes the common mistake of trying to prove she's as good as a man. She's a woman."

The night of the meet. Wilma changed into her track suit in her hotel, pulled on a white leather coat, and tiptoed through the mounting snow of a blizzard while Temple vainly flagged the empty cabs that cruised blandly by. Worse yet. when she did reach the Garden the guards refused to let her in the nearest entrance, brusquely directed her to a door a block away.

The foul-ups would have infuriated any other athlete, but the minute Wilma finally did gain entrance to the Garden she was obligingly signing autographs for hordes of kids--and a number of shy male track stars. Tentative applause rippled around the gloomy tiers of the Garden at the mention of her name by the announcer ("The woman of the year in all sports through the world"). Then Wilma began to run with her long, floating stride, and suddenly the cigar-chewing track buffs--the men who had seen them all--began to cheer like schoolboys.

Wilma won her first heat by 10 yds. Before the semifinal, she whiffed spirits of ammonia to clear her head ("Cigar smoke always gives me a headache, and there's lots of cigars here") and again won by 10 yds. In the final. Wilma came off the blocks a split second behind the field. Then, as an appreciative, hoarse male bellow swept through the Garden, Wilma turned on her speed with 30 yds. to go and won as she pleased. Her time of 6.9 sec. tied the world record she herself had set last month in Los Angeles.

Officials bustled up to lead her to the prize table and a flock of waiting photographers. The girl who had just successfully stormed the male citadel of the Millrose Games turned anxiously to a nearby friend. "Quick, do you have a mirror?" Wilma Rudolph asked. "Quick, do you have a comb?"

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