Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's 60 metres

The men's 60 metres was the shortest of the track races at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, which was the first time the event was held. It was held on 15 July 1900. 10 athletes from 6 nations competed. Five preliminary heats were scheduled, though only two were actually held. The top two athletes from each of the heats advanced to the final, resulting in a final race that featured three United States runners and an Australian. Hurdle specialist Alvin Kraenzlein of the United States won the event, with his countryman Walter Tewksbury in second and Australian Stan Rowley earning bronze.

Men's 60 metres
at the Games of the II Olympiad
Finish of the final
VenueBois de Boulogne
DateJuly 15
Competitors10 from 6 nations
Winning time7.0 OR
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Alvin Kraenzlein
 United States
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Walter Tewksbury
 United States
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Stan Rowley
 Australia
1904 →

Background

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This was the first time the event was held; it would be held again only in 1904 before being discontinued. 110 metres hurdles champion Alvin Kraenzlein, 200 metres and 400 metres hurdles champion Walter Tewksbury, and 100 metres and 200 metres bronze medalist Stan Rowley were among the entrants.[1]

Australia, France, Hungary, India, Sweden, and the United States competed in the debut of the event.

Records

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World bests were not recognized until 1966.

As this was a new event, there was no standing Olympic record: Alvin Kraenzlein set the initial record with 7.0 seconds in the first semifinal, then equalled it in the final.

Competition format

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The competition consisted of two rounds: semifinals and a final. The top two runners in each of the two semifinals advanced to the final.

Schedule

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Date Time Round
Sunday, 15 July 1900 14:00
14:45
Semifinals
Final

Results

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Semifinals

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Semifinal 1

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Minahan was about half a yard behind Kraenzlein, with Pritchard a yard behind him.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Alvin Kraenzlein   United States 7.0 Q, OR
2 Edmund Minahan   United States 7.0 Q
3 Norman Pritchard   India 7.1
4–5 Adolphe Klingelhoefer   France Unknown
Isaac Westergren   Sweden Unknown

Semifinal 2

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Tewksbury beat Rowley by a foot.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Walter Tewksbury   United States 7.2 Q
2 Stan Rowley   Australia 7.3 Q
3 William Holland   United States Unknown
4–5 Pál Koppán   Hungary Unknown
Ernő Schubert   Hungary Unknown

Final

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The 60 metres final was a close race, with the two top Americans being separated by four inches and Rowley half a yard behind. It was each of the runners' second time running the 60 in less than an hour, as the final was held almost immediately after the preliminary heats.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
  Alvin Kraenzlein   United States 7.0 =OR
  Walter Tewksbury   United States 7.1
  Stan Rowley   Australia 7.2
4 Edmund Minahan   United States 7.2

Sources

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  1. ^ "60 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2020.