This Day in Track & Field–July 21
1908–At the London Olympics, “Peerless Mel” Sheppard won the 800 meters with a World Record time of 1:52.8. Sheppard continued on to 880-yards (1:54.0). He later won gold in the 4×400 relay and silver in the 800 at the 1912 Olympics. For many years the “Mel Sheppard 600y” was one of the featured events at the Millrose Games.
Results: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Sheppard
1926—14-year old Viola Edwards became the first female to clear 5-feet when she high-jumped 5-1/2 (reported elsewhere as 5-1/8) in Chicago.
http://tinyurl.com/ViolaEdwards
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