FAMOUS KILDARE ATHLETE TO VISIT HIS NATIVE HOME

Leinster Leader 11 February 1911
Famous Kildare Athlete
To visit his native home

The “New York Times” writes:-
Tommy Conneff, the holder of the world’s amateur foot-running records of three-quarters of a mile and one mile, will arrive in New York the latter part of this month. After a short stay he will sail on the Laurentic to, as he expresses it, ”bid ould Ireland the top o’ the morning.” The famous little champion is now an officer in Company B, Twenty-Second Infantry, stationed at San Antonio, Texas.
In a letter to James E. Sullivan, speaking about his intentions, he said in part:- “My enlistment is complete on Jan. 28, and it is my intention to return to my old troop E of Custer’s Horse in the Seventh Cavalry, leaving San Francisco for the Philippine Islands, May 2nd next.
“It’s the call of the East. The glamour of the Southern Pacific, the mirage of enchantment of the Orient, the wanderlust of my race, but it’s all in the service of Uncle Sam and Old Glory, my winning combination.”
Conneff is well and favourably known through his participation in amateur athletics in and about this city from 1888 to 1895, in the international games between England and America, when Conneff won the one and three mile races, being a fitting wind-up to an honourable athletic career.
Conneff’s records, three quarters in 3.02 4.5, made Aug. 21st 1895, and one mile in 4.15 3-5, made the week following, stands out on the books of father Time as strongly now as they did when made, 15 years ago, and although they have been assailed many times by the pick of distance performers both here and abroad, the y look likely to adorn the books for many years to come. As a former member of the Manhattan A.C., and the New York A.c., he did his best work on the cinder path and never once did the authorities have any fault to find with his ideas of amateurism. It is the intention of his many friends to tender him a  banquet upon his arrival here and in a small way show him the regard in which he is held, both because of his great running ability and his qualities as a sportsman.”
The famous Kildare athlete has called off this banquet in consequence of the death of his mother, who passed away at her residence in Clane, Co. Kildare, last December. He returns to his native land under sad circumstances, for he had hoped to arrive before the death of his deeply-loved mother.

A newspaper article from the Leinster Leader of 11 February 1911 on Tommy Conneff, the famous Kildare athlete