Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 3200 metres steeplechase

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Men's 3200 metre steeplechase
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
London 1908 Steeplechase.jpg
The water jump
Venue White City Stadium
DatesJuly 17, 1908 (semifinals)
July 18, 1908 (final)
Competitors24 from 6 nations
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Arthur Russell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Silver medal icon.svg Archie Robertson Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Bronze medal icon.svg John Eisele US flag 45 stars.svg  United States

The men's 3,200 metres steeplechase was held for the only time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held on July 17, 1908, and July 18, 1908. The races were held on a track of 536.45 metres=13 mile in circumference. There were six heats of the first round, with the winners of those heats competing in the final.

24 runners from 6 nations competed; eleven from Great Britain, eight from the United States, two from Canada, two from France, one from Hungary, and one from Italy. [1] NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes. [2]

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.

World Recordnone
Olympic Record7:34.4(*) Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg George Orton Paris (FRA)July 15, 1900
7:39.6(**) Flag of the United States.svg James Lightbody St. Louis (USA)August 29, 1904

(*) The distance of this race was 2500 metres and the track was 500 metres in circumference.

(**) The distance of this race was 2590 metres and the track was 536.45 metres=13 mile in circumference.

Results

First round

All first round heats were held on Friday, July 17, 1908.

Heat 1

Russell beat Cartasegna by 100 yards. Downing was disqualified for incorrectly clearing the first water jump, while Ragueneau dropped out on the second lap and Carr injured his ankle.

PlaceNameNationTime
1 Arthur Russell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 10:56.2
2 Massimo Cartasegna Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 11:15.0
Gaston Ragueneau Flag of France.svg  France DNF
Edward Carr US flag 45 stars.svg  United States DNF
Thomas DowningFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain DSQ

Heat 2

Eisele was the only one to finish: de Fleurac led early, but was caught before the water jump and pulled up lame, while English fell and Lovas and Buckley dropped out trying to keep the pace.

PlaceNameNationTime
1 John Eisele US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 11:13.6
Antal LovasFlag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary DNF
Louis de Fleurac Flag of France.svg  France DNF
Fred Buckley Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain DNF
Joseph EnglishFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain DNF

Heat 3

Barker pulled up lame on the last lap, leaving Galbraith with the win.

PlaceNameNationTime
1 William Galbraith Flag of Canada (1868-1921).svg  Canada 11:12.4
Henry BarkerFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain DNF

Heat 4

With Yorke being disqualified for obstruction and Bonhag injured, the race was between Robertson and Dull. Dull led at first, but Robertson passed him and won by two hundred yards.

PlaceNameNationTime
1 Archie Robertson Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 11:10.0
2 Gayle Dull US flag 45 stars.svg  United States (11:50.0)
George Bonhag US flag 45 stars.svg  United States DNF
Richard Yorke Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain DSQ

Heat 5

The Americans had little chance of catching up with Holdaway and Kinchin; Holdaway was a hundred yards ahead at the finish.

PlaceNameNationTime
1 Guy Holdaway Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 11:18.8
2Joseph KinchinFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain (11:44.0)
3 Roland Spitzer US flag 45 stars.svg  United States unknown
4Charles HallUS flag 45 stars.svg  United States unknown

Heat 6

After Fitzgerald fell and Grantham pulled up lame, Sewell and Lightbody competed right up to the finish, when Sewell pulled away at the end to win a tight race by less than ten yards.

PlaceNameNationTime
1 Harry Sewell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 11:30.2
2 James Lightbody US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 11:41.0
James Fitzgerald Flag of Canada (1868-1921).svg  Canada DNF
Billy GranthamFlag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain DNF

Final

The final was held on Saturday, July 18, 1908.

Arthur Russell finishing first in front of Archie Robertson. 1908 3200 metre steeplechase final.JPG
Arthur Russell finishing first in front of Archie Robertson.

Holdaway was the first to lead, but did not do so for long. Galbraith and Russell were the leaders for most of the first half of the race, until Galbraith fell back and Eisele joined Russell at the front. After the bell, Robertson passed Eisele and nearly caught Russell, trailing by only two yards when the two crossed the finish line.

PlaceNameNationTime
1 Arthur Russell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 10:47.8
2 Archie Robertson Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 10:48.4
3 John Eisele US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 11:00.8
4 Guy Holdaway Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain (11:26.0)
5 Harry Sewell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain unknown
6 William Galbraith Flag of Canada (1868-1921).svg  Canada unknown

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References

  1. "Athletics at the 1908 London: Men's 3,200 metres Steeplechase". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  2. Official report, p. 32.

Sources