Running the Race of Faith

In July 1923 at Stoke-on-Trent, England, a gun sounded, marking the start of a 440-yard race between runners from England, Ireland, and Scotland. Just a few paces into the race, J. J. Gillies of England cut through the pack to get an inside position. As he did so, he inadvertently tripped a runner from Scotland, who fell to the grass. Gillies quickly took the lead, while the Scot sat forlornly on