The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 (extracts)

85 Ray Ewry had won this event in Paris, St. Louis, and at the Athenian Games of 1906, and is a veteran performer about whose success there was never any doubt, except when Tsiclitiras of Pylos got near him in this event and still clo er in the next. The young Greek was not 20 years old, and may still improve. Ewry's height was 6 ft. r in. and his weight II st. 8 lb. H did r 1 ft. 4~ in. in this event at ~t. Louis in 1904, which is the Olympic record. The world'· record (professional) is 12 ft. 61 in., by W. Barker at Wigan in May, 1904. The Irish record is said to be 12 ft. 9} in. by J. Chandler, but I haYe no official confirmation of this. Diplomas of Merit for the 'tanding Broad Jump were awarded to J. A. Biller, of the lJnite<l tate:, and 0. R. B. Ekberg, of weden. XIII.-STANDING HIGH JUMP. The Rule of the ~ .A.A. with regard to thi event was printed m the programme a · follows :- " The feet of the conipetitor may be placed in any positiou, but shall leave the ground only once in making an attempt to jwnp. When the feet are lifted from ihe ground twice, or two springs are made in 'making the attempt, it shall count as a trial jump without result. A competitor may rock forward and backward, lifting heels and toes alternately from the ground, but may not lift either foot clear from the ground or slide it along the groimd in any direction." " With this exception the rules are similar to the Running High ]1unp." ft. in. metres I. R. C. Ewry, nited tates .. 5 2 I ·57 t C. Tsiclitira , Greece 5 I' 5 5 t J. . Biller, United tates .. s I. 55 4. F. Leroy Holmes, United tates .. s 0 I' 52 i· Dead heat for second place, both being awarded silver medals. ]so competed :-P. dams, United tates (4 ft. 10 in.); G. ndre, France (4ft. 10in.); A. Motte, France (4ft. min.); L. Dupont, Belgium; v. E. B. Hen· derson, nited Kingdom; W. Blijstad, Norway; F. C. Irons, United States; A. Iallwitz, Germany ; K. Langkjoer, Denmark (all of whom cleared 4 ft. 8 in.) ; A. E. Flaxman, United Kingdom; L. H. G. taffor<l, nited Kingdom; E. H. IIutcheon, Australia; M. J. Sheridan, United States; G. Barber, Canada; K. Fryksdal, weden; L. Robertson, United States; A. Bengtsson, Sweden, and H. Jardin, France. The Olympic record was set at 5 ft. 4.1 in. by Ewry at Paris in 1900, but he did another inch higher next year in New York. The world's record appears to be 6 ft., whi h was done by J. Darby (profe. ional) with his ankles bound together. A Diploma of Merit for the tan<ling High Jump wa awarded to F. L. Holmes, an American.