Track and field was one of 20 sports contested at the II Olympic Games in Paris, France, in 1900. The track and field program consisted of 23 events: 60 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, Marathon, 110 meters hurdles, 200 meters hurdles, 400 meters hurdles, 2,500 meters steeplechase, 4,000 meters steeplechase, 5,000 meters team race, high jump, standing high jump, pole vault, long jump, standing long jump, triple jump, standing triple jump, shot put, discus throw, and hammer throw.
One hundred seventeen (117) athletes representing 17 countries participated in track and field, of which 41 representing 11 nations won medals. Athletes representing the United States led the medal count with 39 (16 gold, 13 silver, 10 bronze), followed by Great Britain with 10 (3 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze), France with 7 (1 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze), Australia with 3 bronze, Canada with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze), Hungary with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze), Australia/Great Britain with 1 gold, Bohemia with 1 silver, Denmark with 1 bronze, Norway with 1 bronze, and Sweden with 1 bronze.
Seventeen (17) athletes representing 5 nations won more than one medal in track and field. Irving Baxter (United States) lead the medal count with 5 (2 gold, 3 silver), followed by John Walter Tewksbury (United States) with 5, (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze), Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) with 4 gold, Stanley Rowley (Australia) with 4 (1 gold, 3 bronze), Ray Ewry (United States) with 3 gold, Charles Bennett (Great Britain/England) with 3 (2 gold, 1 silver), Sidney Robinson (Great Britain/England) with 3 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Alfred Tysoe (Great Britain/England) with2 gold, Jack Rimmer (Great Britain/England) with 2 gold, Meyer Prinstein (United States) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), George Orton (Canada) with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze), Richard Sheldon (United States) with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze),Norman Pritchard (Great Britain/India) with 2 silver, Jean Chastanié (France) with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), Josiah McCracken (United States) with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), Patrick Leahy (Great Britain/Ireland) with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), and Lewis Sheldon (United States) with 2 bronze.
Seventy-three (73) athletes representing 14 nations scored points in track and field. Athletes representing the United States led scoring with 379 points, followed by France (94), Great Britain (87), Hungary (33), Sweden (29), Canada (25), Australia (18), Germany (12), Denmark (11), Mixed Team (Australia/Great Britain) (10), Greece (9), Bohemia (8), Norway (8), and Austria (7).
(Points for Place: 1st=10 points; 2nd =8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=5 points; 5th =4 points; 6th=3 points; 7th=2 points; 8th=1 point)
60 Meters (July 15)
World Record: 7.0 Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) July 15, 1900
Olympic Record: 7.0 Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) July 15, 1900
1, Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) 7.0 =WR, =OR
2, John Walter Tewksbury (United States) 7.1
3, Stan Rowley (Australia) 7.2
4, Edmund Minahan (United States) 7.2
100 Meters (July 14)
World Record: 10.8 Luther Cary (United States July 4, 1891; Cecil Lee (Great Britain/England) September 25, 1892; Etienne De Re (Belgium) August 4, 1893; L. Atcherley (Great Britain) April 13, 1895; Harry Beaton (Great Britain/England) August 28, 1985; Harald Andersen-Arbin (Sweden) August 9, 1896; Issac Westergren (Sweden) September 11, 1898; Issac Westergren (Sweden) September 10, 1899; Frank Jarvis (United States) July 14, 1900; John Walter Tewksbury (United States) July 14, 1900
Olympic Record: 10.8 Frank Jarvis (United States) July 14, 1900; John Walter Tewksbury (United States) July 14, 1900
1, Frank Jarvis (United States) 11.0
2, John Walter Tewksbury (United States) 11.1
3, Stanley Rowley (Australia) 11.2
4, Arthur Duffey (United States) N/T
200 Meters (July 22)
World Record: 21.2 (220 yards) Bernie Wefers (United States)
Olympic Record: 24.0 William Holland (United States) July 22, 1900
1, John Walter Tewksbury (United States) 22.2 OR
2, Norman Pritchard (Great Britain/India) 22.8
3, Stanley Rowley (Australia) 22.9
4, William Holland (United States) N/T
400 Meters (July 15)
World Record: 48.5 (440 yards) Henry Tindall (Great Britain/England), Edgar Bredin (Great Britain/England)
Olympic Record: 50.4 Maxwell “Maxey” Long (United States) July 14, 1900
1, Maxey Long (United States) 49.4 OR
2, William Holland (United States) 49.6
3, Ernst Schultz (Denmark) 53.0
800 Meters (July 16)
World Record: 1:53.4 (880 yards) Charles Kirkpatrick (United States)
Olympic Record: 1:59.0 David Hall (United States) July 14, 1900
1, Alfred Tysoe (Great Britain/England) 2:01.20
2, John Cregan (United States) 2:01.80
3, David Hall (United States) 2:03.00
4, Henri Deloge (France)
5, Zoltan Spiedl (Hungary)
6, John Bray (United States)
1,500 Meters (July 15)
World Record: 4:10.4 Albin Lermusiaux (France) June 26, 1896
Olympic Record: 4:33.2 Edwin Flack (Australia) April 7, 1896
1, Charles Bennett (Great Britain/England) 4:06.20 WR, OR
2, Henri Deloge (France) 4:07.00
3, John Bray (United States) 4:10.20
4, David Hall (United States) NT
5, Christian Christensen (Denmark) NT
6, Herman Wraschtil (Austria) NT
Marathon July 19)
Distance 40.26 Kilometers (25.01 miles)
1, Michel Theato (France/Luxembourg) 2:59:45
2, Emile Champion (France) 3:04:17
3, Ernst Fast (Sweden) 3:37:14
4, Eugene Bessemar (France) 4:00:43
5, Arthur Newton (United States) 4:04:12
6, Dick Grant (Canada)
7, Ronald MacDonald (Canada)
110 Meter-Hurdles (July 14)
World Record: 15.2 (120 yards) Alvin Kraenzlein (United States)
Olympic Record: 15.6 Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) July 14, 1900
1, Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) 15.4 OR
2, John McLean (United States) 15.6
3, Fredrick Moloney (United States) 15.6
4, Jean Lecuyer (France)
DNF, Norman Pritchard (Great Britain/India)
200 Meter-Hurdles (July 16)
World Record: 23.6 Alvin Kraenzlein (United States)
Olympic Record: 26.8 Norman Pritchard (Great Britain/India) July 16, 1900
1, Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) 25.4 OR
2, Norman Pritchard (Great Britain/India) 26.0 estimated
3, John Walter Tewksbury (United States) 26.1 estimated
4, Eugène Choisel (France) N/T
400 Meter-Hurdles (July 15)
World Record: 57.2 (440 yards) Godfrey Shaw
Olympic Record: 60.2 Henri Tauzin (France) July 14, 1900
1, John Walter Tewksbury (United States) 57.6 OR
2, Henri Tauzin (France) 58.3
3, George Orton (Canada) 58.8
2,500 Meter-Steeplechase (July 15)
1, George Orton (Canada) 7:34.4
2, Sidney Robinson (Great Britain/England) 7:38.0
3, Jean Chastanié (France) 7:41.6
4, Arthur Newton (United States) N/T
5, Hermann Wraschtil (Austria) N/T
6, Franz Duhne (Germany) N/T
4,000 Meter-Steeplechase (July 16)
1, Jack Rimmer (Great Britain/England) 12:58.4
2, Charles Bennett (Great Britain/England) 12:58.6 estimated
3, Sidney Robinson (Great Britain/England) 12:58.8 estimated
4, Jean Chastanié (France) N/T
5, George Orton (Canada) N/T
6, Franz Duhne (Germany) N/T
DNF Alex Grant (Canada) N/T
DNF Thaddeus McClain (United States)
5,000 Meters Team Race (July 22)
1, Amateur Athletic Association (Australia/Great Britain) 26 points
Stan Rowley (Australia), Charles Bennett (Great Britain/England), Jack Rimmer (Great Britain/England), Sidney Robinson (Great Britain/England), Alfred Tysoe (Great Britain/England)
2, Racing Club de France (France) 29 points
Henri Deloge, Gaston Ragueneau, Jean Chastanié, André Castanet, Albert Champoudry
High Jump (July 15)
World Record: 1.97 meters (6 feet 5 inches) Michael Sweeney (United States)
Olympic Record: 1.81 meters (5 feet 11.25 inches) Ellery Clark (United States) April 10, 1896
1, Irving Baxter (United States) 1.90 meters (6 feet 2.75 inches) OR
2, Patrick Leahy (Great Britain/Ireland) 1.78 meters (5 feet 10 inches)
3, Lajos Gönczy (Hungary) 1.75 meters (5 feet 8.75 inches)
4, Carl-Albert Andersen (Norway) 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches)
4, Eric Lemming (Sweden) 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches)
4, Waldemar Steffen (Germany) 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches)
7, Louis Monnier (France) 1.60 meters (5 feet 3 inches)
8, Tore Blom (Sweden) 1.50 meters (4 feet 11 inches)
Standing High Jump (July 16)
1, Ray Ewry (United States) 1.655 meters (5 feet 5 inches) WR, OR
2, Irving Baxter (United States) 1.525 meters (5 feet 0 inches)
3, Lewis Sheldon (United States) 1.500 meters (4 feet 11 inches)
Pole Vault (July 15)
World Record: 3.61 meters (11 feet 10.5 inches) Raymond Clapp (United States)
Olympic Record: 3.30 meters (10 feet 10 inches) William Welles Hoyt (United States) April 10, 1896
1, Irving Baxter (United States) 3.30 meters (10 feet 10 inches) =OR
2, Meredith Colket (United States) 3.25 meters (10 feet 8 inches)
3, Carl-Albert Andersen (Norway) 3.20 meters (10 feet 6 inches)
4, Eric Lemming (Sweden) 3.10 meters (10 feet 2 inches)
4, Jakab Kauser (Hungary) 3.10 meters (10 feet 2 inches)
4, Emile Goutier (France) 3.10 meters (10 feet 2 inches)
7, Karl Staaf (Sweden) 2.80 meters (9 feet 2.5 inches)
8, August Nilsson (Sweden) 2.60 meters (8 feet 6.25 inches)
Long Jump (July 15)
World Record: 7.50 meters (24 feet 7.25 inches) Meyer Prinstein (United States)
Olympic Record: 6.35 meters (20 feet 10 inches) Ellery Clark (United States) April 7, 1896
1, Alvin Kraenzlein (United States) 7.185 meters (23 feet 7 inches) OR
2, Meyer Prinstein (United States) 7.175 meters (23 feet 6.5 inches)
3, Patrick Leahy (Great Britain/Ireland) 6.950 meters (22 feet 9.75 inches)
4, William Remington (United States) 6.825 meters (22 feet 4.75 inches)
5, Albert Delannoy (France) 6.755 meters (22 feet 2 inches)
6, John McLean (United States) 6.655 meters (21 feet 10.25 inches)
7, Thaddeus McClain (United States) 6.435meters (21 feet 1.5 inches)
8, Waldemar Steffen (Germany) 6.300 meters (20 feet 8 inches)
Standing Long Jump (July 16)
1, Ray Ewry (United States) 3.300 meters (10 feet 10 inches) OR
2, Irving Baxter (United States) 3.135 meters (10 feet 3.25 inches)
3, Émile Torcheboeuf (France) 3.030 meters (9 feet 11.25 inches)
4, Lewis Sheldon (United States) 3.020 meters (9 feet 10.75 inches)
Triple Jump (July 16)
World Record: 15.25 meters (50 feet 0.25 inches) Daniel Shanahan (Ireland)
Olympic Record: 13.71 meters (44 feet 11.75 inches) James Connolly (United States) April 6, 1896
1, Meyer Prinstein (United States) 14.47 meters (47 feet 5.75 inches) OR
2, James Connolly (United States) 13.97 meters (45 feet 10 inches)
3, Lewis Sheldon (United States) 13.64 meters (44 feet 9 inches)
4, Patrick Leahy (Great Britain/Ireland) N/M
5, Albert Delannoy (France) N/M
6, Alexandre Tuffere (France) N/M
Standing Triple Jump (July 16)
1, Ray Ewry (United States) 10.58 meters (34 feet 8.5 inches) OR
2, Irving Baxter (United States) 9.95 meters (32 feet 7.75 inches)
3, Robert Garrett (United States) 9.50 meters (31 feet 2 inches)
4, Lewis Sheldon (United States) 9.45 meters (31 feet 2 inches)
Shot Put (July 15)
World Record: 14.68 meters (48 feet 2 inches) Dennis Horgan (Ireland)
Olympic Record: 13.80 meters (45 feet 3.5 inches) Richard Sheldon (United States) July 14, 1900
1, Richard Sheldon (United States) 14.10 meters (46 feet 3.25 inches) OR
2, Josiah McCracken (United States) 12.85 meters (42 feet 2 inches)
3, Robert Garrett (United States) 12.35 meters (40 feet 6.5 inches)
4, Rezso Crettier (Hungary) 12.07 meters (39 feet 7.25 inches)
5, Panagiotis Paraskevopoulos (Greece) 11.52 meters (37 feet 9.5 inches)
6, Gustaf Söderstrom (Sweden) 11.18 meters (36 feet 8.25 inches)
7, Artur Coray (Hungary) 11.13 meters (36 feet 6.25 inches)
8, Thomas Truxtun Hare (United States) 10.92 meters (35 feet 10 inches)
Discus Throw (July 14)
World Record: 36.20 meters (118 feet 9.00 inches) Charles Henneman (United States) 1897
Olympic Record: 36.04 meters (118 feet 3 inches) Rudolf Bauer (Hungary) July 14, 1900
1, Rudolf Bauer (Hungary) 36.04 meters (118 feet 3.00 inches) OR
2, Frantisek Janda-Suk (Bohemia) 35.14 meters (115 feet 3.00 inches)
3, Richard Sheldon (United States) 34.60 meters (113 feet 6.00 inches)
4, Panagiotis Paraskevopoulos (Greece) 34.50 meters (111 feet 8.00 inches)
5, Rezso Crettier (Hungary) 33.65 meters (110 feet 4.50 inches)
6, Gustaf Söderstrom (Sweden) 33.07 meters (108 feet 5.50 inches)
7, John Flanagan (United States) 33.00 meters (108 feet 3 inches)
8, Eric Lemming (Sweden) 32.50 meters (106 feet 7 inches)
8, Carl Winckler (Denmark) 32.50 meters (106 feet 7 inches)
Hammer Throw (July 16)
World Record: 51.105 meters (167 feet 8 inches) John Flanagan (United States)
1, John Flanagan (United States) 51.01 meters (167 feet 4.50 inches) OR
2, Thomas Truxtun Hare (United States) 46.26 meters (151 feet 9 inches)
3, Josiah McCracken (United States) 43.58 meters (143 feet 0 inches)
4, Eric Lemming (Sweden) N/M
5, Karl Gustav Staaf (Sweden) N/M
References:
“Athletics at the 1900 Summer Games,” SR/Olympic Sports;
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, Part IV (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2011);
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook, Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012, Part I (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2012);
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook, Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012, Part II (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2012);
Quercetani, R.L., A World History of Track and Field Athletics, 1864-1964 (London: Oxford University Press, 1964);
Wallechinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky, The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2012 Edition (London: Aurum Press, 2012).
