This Day in Track & Field, July 17, IAAF formed (1912), Gunder (“The Wonder”) Hägg breaks 1,500m WR (1942), Jim Ryun runs 3:51.3 (1966), by Walt Murphy News and Results Service

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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. The exceptions at this year’s Trials at Harvard (Cambridge, MA) were the 3000m-Steeplechase, 5000m, and 10,000m.

Among those who made the team and went on to win gold at the Antwerp Olympics (the 1^st 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

NY Times: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/07/18/102873881.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0

1922–Great Britain’s Mary Lines established the first World Record in the Women’s 440y by running 64.4 in London.

British Pioneers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Lines

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.

WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1500_metres_world_record_progression

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.

WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile_run_world_record_progression