Walt Murphy is one of the finest track statisticians that I know. Walt does #ThisDayinTrack&FieldHistory, an excellent daily service that provides true geek stories about our sport. You can check out the service for FREE with a free one-month trial subscription! (email: WaltMurphy44@gmail.com ) for the entire daily service. We will post a few historic moments each day, beginning February 1, 2024.
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This Day in Track & Field–July 17
1912 – IAAF (Int’l Amateur Athletic Federation) forms in Sweden. (Later became known as the International Association of Athletics Federations and now as World Athletics).
https://www.worldathletics.org/heritage/history
IAAF 2012 Awards Ceremony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NhF_nMh5-c
Centenary Celebration (Spanish commentary, but worth watching–Start at the 6:30 mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Y8PE0l2tk
1920—Most running events were conducted at imperial distances for the only time in U.S. Olympic Trials history.
Among those who made the team and went on to win gold at the Antwerp Olympics (the 1st since 1912, due to WWI) were Charley Paddock (100m), Allen Woodring (200m), Frank Loomis (400m-Hurdles), Richmond Landon (High Jump), Frank Foss (Pole Vault), Pat Ryan (Hammer), and Pat McDonald (56lb Weight Throw).
The meet also served as the U.S. Championships.
Results/Notes: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1920.pdf
1922–Great Britain’s Mary Lines established the first World Record in the Women’s 440y by running 64.4 in London.
1942–Sweden’s Gunder (“The Wonder”) Hägg won the 1500 in 3:45.8 in Stockholm to break his own World Record of 3:47.6.
1945—Hägg ran 4:01.4 for the Mile in Malmö to break countryman Arne Andersson’s year-old World Record of 4:01.6.
