Athletics of To-Day 1929

CHAPTER XI THE Low HURDLES-220 YARDS, 400 METRES, 440 YARDS THERE was a 200 yards hurdle race included at the first Oxford and ambridge Sports Meeting in r864 and won by E. Wynne– Finch, C.U.A.C., in 26! secs. I know that there were ro flights of hurdles, but what height they stood I have not been able to ascertain, nor does it greatly matter, since the event was contested but once. In the files of The Sporting Gazette of r874 I have found reference to plenty of 120 yards hurdle races, while various contests at 200, 250 and 300 yards over hurdles are recorded, with C. L. Lockton of Merchant Taylors' School usually figuring as the winner. In one of these contests at 200 yards over r2 flights he returned z6i secs. This is the only time I find recorded, and there is no mention of the height of the hurdles. America took up furlong hurdle running (ro flights of z ft. 6 ins. hurdles) in r887, when the first National Championship was won by A. F. opland, Manhattan A.C., in 27 secs. In the following year the Inter-Collegiate title was founded and won by C. S. Mandel, Harvard, in 26! secs. By r8g8, how– ever, A. C. Kraenzlein, Pennsylvania, had brought the record down to 23! secs., a performance never equalled until 1913 when J. I. Wendell, Wesleyan University, won ; R. I. Simpson, Missouri, again equalled the record in rgr6, and . R. Brookins, Iowa, reduced the world's best time to 23 secs. flat in 1924. A 200 metres (2r8 yds. 2 ft. 2 ins.) hurdles race has been twice included in the Olympic programme, and won in rgoo by A. C. Kraenzlein, U.S.A., 25f secs., and in 1904 by H. L. Hillm an, U.S.A., 24! secs. I5I