It was also a hallmark year for the Boston Marathon, which was announced by the Olympic Committee to host the Olympic marathon trials.
Since Trivoulidas and Wick were not U.S. citizens, they couldn't represent the Olympic Team. However, Roth, Linder, and Conboy did represent the U.S. in the Antwerp, Belgium Olympics.
Sixth-place Robert Conboy ran with his battle wounds exposed, a grim reminder to spectators of what had happened overseas.
The running conditions were captured in the prose of Globe reporter Lawrence Sweeney describing a runner's face as "blackened with dust, gasoline fumes and perspiration."
From the Boston Globe, Tuesday, April 20, 1920
FAST TIRING BUT GAME-TO-THE-CORE ARTHUR V. ROTH, WITH VICTORY NEAR, OVERTAKEN BY
SPEEDING SPARTAN, FINISHES SECOND--TIME 2:29:31
Henigan Blazes Dizzy Trail For 17 Long Miles, Then Has To Give Up Battle
Linder, 1919 Winner, Third, Wick Fourth--Record Crowd Sees Wonderful Struggle
The lead:
Peter Trivoulidas of New York, a swarthy, heavy-legged native of Sparta, Greece,
yesterday afternoon won the 24th annual Marathon race of the Boston A.A., but
before the palm of victory became his, before he was crowned the hero of the
greatest Marathon run ever staged in any land, he was compelled to vanquish little
Arthur V. Roth of the St Alphonsus Association, Roxbury, the winner of the 1916
race, and a lad not reckoned upon as a serious contender, except by his clubmates.
The winner's time was 2h 29m 31s.
The race:
For a few steps the Greek trailed, but when he came abreast, Roth, staggering and
wobbling, exhibited the indomitable courage which all lovers of athletics admire.
He fought back, and fought hard.
But Trivoulidas, three years out of Greece, would not be dealed now. He skipped
past Roth and into the lead, never to be headed, and proceeded to open up a lead of
a full minute.
Yet, practically done, ready to drop from exhaustion, Roth continued to grind, to
plod away, and his grit undoubtedly earned him a place on the Marathon team that
will represent the United States at Antwerp in August. He was the first American
citizen to finish.
The winner:
Peter Trivoulidas, yesterday's hero, was born in Sparta, Greece, 19 years ago. He
ran his first race, the famous Grecian classic from Marathon to Athens, in 1911,
and finished third.
He is employed as a buss boy in the John Wanamaker store in New York, and after May
10 will be eligible to represent the Wanamaker athletic organization, the Millrose
A.A. in competition. Because of the Olympic rules he will be ineligible to
represent the United States, as he is not a citizen. But he may represent Greece.
He weighed 131 pounds at the start of the race and lost six pounds in its running.