Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1907 — BIG FOOT RACE AT WHEATFIELD [ARTICLE]

BIG FOOT RACE AT WHEATFIELD

Sportsman Matched For 90-Yard Race To Be Run at Wheatfield Next Monday, December 2nd. Albert Sportsman, the colored foot racer who has made Rensselaer his home for the past three months, and who is managed by a man named Raymond, who has also been staying here most of the time, has been matched to meet a racer named Claud Hastings, understood to be from Michigan. The race will take place at Wheatfield next Monday, Dec. 2d, between 1 and 2 o’clock, and will be for a distance of 90 yards. A forfeit of SSO a side was put up this Wednesday, to guarantee a purse of $250 a side to be put up before the time for the race. W. B. McNeil, of Wheatfield, acted as manager for Hastings, and the terms were easily arranged. Sportsman has kept up daily practice ever since he came to Rensselaer and it is said by many that he can do 100 3 ards in 10 seconds or a little les«. Hastings is said to be a 75 yard runner and the 90-yard distance was reached by compromise. A large crowd of sports are ex--pected to go to Wheatfield to witness the foot race, which will also draw a large crowd from the north end.