This Day in Observe & Subject-November 11
1868–From Wally Donovan’s Historical past of Indoor Observe & Subject
https://www.amazon.com/history-indoor-track-field/dp/B0006CJ3TG
“On a chilly and wet night time, the indoor observe was born in New York Metropolis. The newly shaped New York Athletic Membership carried out the primary organized observe and subject meet ever held in the US in a constructing below development for a skating rink at Third Avenue and 63rd Road.
The constructing (later often known as the Empire Metropolis Skating Rink) had solely a partial roof, so the devoted membership members rapidly gathered tarpaulins, sewn them collectively, and stretched them over the yawning gap atop the construction.
The rink’s heart had but to be floored inside, so the athletes competed on a staked eighth-of-a-mile clay observe with 4 straight, slim sides and uncomfortably sharp corners.
On Wednesday night, November 11, 1868, it was raining as the gang arrived in horsecars and carriages. They have been greeted by a 42-piece band, and the place was aglow with gaslights. Nevertheless, this didn’t hold the two,000 spectators (each female and male) and the athletes of their flimsy tracksuits from shivering.
Spiked sneakers have been used for the primary time, however there was just one pair, in order that they have been shared by (some) athletes. The boots helped win a prize in each occasion they have been used, three firsts, one second, and one-third being the entire for the night. When it’s remembered that not one of many customers had ever earlier than worn a spiked shoe and that the observe was nearly as laborious as a concrete ground, it could be realized that the brand new fashion sneakers have been considerably uncomfortable, to say the least.
Using the pistol firstly was much less basic than it later turned, and a bass drum was used at this assembly to provide the beginning sign. Whereas it will likely be usually admitted that such a sound can be audible not solely to the starters however even to the spectators, a contestant in a single warmth of the 75-yard run requested for one more trial as a result of he ‘didn’t hear the drum.’
The marks made by every winner have been the primary novice data ever claimed in America.”
Winners
75 yards—William B. Curtis NYAC 9.0
220y—Frank Johnson NYAC 28.0
440y—H.S. Magrane NYAC 1:02.0
880y— H.S. Magrane NYAC 2:26.0
Hurdles (distance not said)—Frank Johnson NYAC 24.0
Working Soar—F.W. Stone Woods’ Gymnasium 5’-2”
Working Broad Soar—John Goldie Caledonian Membership 17’-0”
Standing Broad Soar (with weights)—P.M. Broderick NYAC 11’-6 1/5”
Standing Excessive Soar—John Goldie Caledonian Membership 4’-5”
Standing Three Jumps—P.M. Broderick NYAC 33’-8”
Pole Vault—W.L. Campbell Caledonian Membership (NYAC?) 8’-3”
Shot Put—Alexander Graham Caledonian Membership 35’-5”
Hammer—W.L. Campbell Caledonian Membership (NYAC?) 73’-0”
Mile Stroll–J.E. Russell NYAC 7:50.5
1882–Lon Myers lowered his American Report within the mile to 4:27.6 in New York. A constitution member of the Nationwide Corridor of Fame (1974), Myers additionally set American Data within the 100y, 220y, 440y, and 880y and received a complete of 15 U.S. titles within the 100y (2), 220y (4), 440y (6) and 880y (3)
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lon_Myers
https://www.usatf.org/information/2020/myers-earns-throwback-athlete-of-the-week-honors
1963 (New)—Similar to the mile has its’ 4-minute barrier, the benchmark for the normal 2-1/2 mile highschool cross nation course at NY’s Van Cortlandt Park is 13 minutes. Whereas he didn’t garner the extent of consideration that Roger Bannister acquired when he ran his historic 3:59.4 in 1954, Invoice Leahy, a 17-year
An outdated Boston Catholic Memorial H.S. senior turned one other barrier-buster when he ran 12:58.6 on this date on the “Irish Christian Brothers Championship”!
Marc Bloom, a member of the Van Cortlandt Park Corridor of Fame (for his intensive protection of highschool occasions on the iconic web site), writes at size about Leahy’s life earlier than and after his shining second on this RunnerSpace article: