Bert Wilson, Marathon Winner

A college long-distance runner endures a dramatic fall during a major intercollegiate marathon but stages a daring comeback to win. The narrative follows his seasonal training, academic obligations, and passage on a chartered liner with fellow athletes bound for international competition. Along the voyage and in subsequent contests he encounters natural dangers, shipboard emergencies, rivalries, and episodes requiring quick thinking and courage. The episodic story alternates vivid race descriptions with adventure set pieces, emphasizing endurance, teamwork, fair play, and the personal growth that comes from overcoming physical and moral challenges en route to athletic success.