This Day in Track & Field, August 17, Albert Hill wins 800 meter at Antwerp Olympics (1920), Ireland sets WR for 4 x 1 Mile (1985), by Walt Murphy News and Results Services

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service  (wmurphy25@aol.com)

This Day in Track & Field–August 17

1920—Britain’s Albert Hill (1:53.4) came from behind in the homestretch to win the 800-meters at the Antwerp Olympics. Close behind were American Earl Eby (1:53.6), South Africa’s Bevil Rudd(1:53.6), and Great Britain’s Edgar Mountain(1:53.7).

31 at the time, Hill remains the oldest Olympic gold medalist in the event. He would win a 2^nd gold in the 1500 two days later.

            France’s Joseph Guillemot passed Finland’s Paavo Nurmi (15:00.00) with 200-meters to go in the 5000-meters, and won going away in 14:55.6.  3^rd was Sweden’s Eric Backman (15:13.0).

            The U.S. got a 1-2 finish in the Men’s High Jump from Dick Landon (6-4  3/8 [1.936]) and Harold Muller (6-2  ¾ [1.90]). 3^rdwas Sweden’s Bo Eklund (6-2  ¾ [1.90]).

Medalists/Results: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1920_Summer_Olympics

Olympedia Reports: https://www.olympedia.org/editions/7/sports/ATH

1977–A German foursome of Thomas Wessinghage (3:38.8), Harald Hudak (3:39.1), Michael Lederer (3:44.6), and Karl Fleschen (3:36.3) ran 14:38.8  in Cologne to set a World Record in the 4×1500 relay. The record lasted for 32 years until a team from Kenya ran 14:36.23 in 2009.

1983—Tyke Peacock jumped 7-7  ¾ (2.33) in Berlin to break the American Record of 7-7  ¼ (2.32) that he had shared with Dwight Stones, Jeff Woodard, and Del Davis.

            Another American Record was set by Henry Marsh in the Steeplechase (8:12.37).

Sports Illustrated Vault: https://vault.si.com/vault/1983/08/29/above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty

1985–Four of Ireland’s greatest milers combined to set the current World Record of 15:49.08 in the 4-mile relay at Dublin’s Belfield Stadium. And guess who had the slowest split?

            Eamonn Coghlan, pushed by the “B” team’s John Treacy the entire way, led off in 4:00.2, followed by Marcus O’Sullivan (3:55.3), Frank O’Mara (3:56.6), and Ray Flynn (3:57.0). The previous mark of 15:59.57 was set by a John Walker-led New Zealand team in 1983.