The men's 110 metres hurdles was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the third time the event was held. 6 hurdlers from 2 nations participated. The competition was held on September 3, 1904. The event was won by Frederick Schule of the United States, the third of five consecutive victories for the nation in the first five Olympic Games. It was also the second of four consecutive podium sweeps for the Americans in the event.

Background

This was the third appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. None of the hurdlers from 1900 returned. Edwin Clapp was the 1903 and 1904 IC4A champion and the American favorite; he entered but did not start. Thaddeus Shideler had matched Alvin Kraenzlein's 120 yards hurdles world record. Frederick Schule was the 1903 AAU champion, while Frank Castleman was the 1904 winner.

Australia made its first appearance in the event. The United States made its third appearance, the only nation to compete in the 110 metres hurdles in each of the first three Games.

Competition format

There were two rounds: semifinals and a final. There were two semifinals, one with 2 runners and one with 4 runners after withdrawals. The top two runners in each of the semifinal heats advanced to the 4-man final.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1904 Summer Olympics.

World record 15.0(*) Thaddeus Shideler St. Louis (USA) June 11, 1904 Olympic record 15.4 Alvin Kraenzlein Paris (FRA) July 14, 1900

(*) unofficial 120 yards (= 109.73 m)

Schedule

Date Time Round Saturday, 3 September 1904 SemifinalsFinal

Results

Semifinals

The top two finishers in each semifinal heat advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 Frederick Schule 16.2 2 Lesley Ashburner Unknown 3 Ward McLanahan Unknown 4 Corrie Gardner 16.4

Semifinal 2

McPherson withdrew after learning that the hurdles were one foot lower than normal.

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes1 Frank Castleman 16.2 2 Thaddeus Shideler Unknown — Leslie McPherson Edwin Clapp

Final

Rank Athlete Nation Time Frederick Schule 16.0 Thaddeus Shideler 16.3 Lesley Ashburner 16.44 Frank Castleman Unknown

Results summary

Rank Athlete Nation Semifinals Final Frederick Schule 16.2 16.0 Thaddeus Shideler Unknown 16.3 Lesley Ashburner Unknown 16.44 Frank Castleman 16.2 Unknown Ward McLanahan Unknown rowspan=8 Corrie Gardner 16.4 — Leslie McPherson Edwin Clapp C. R. Vincent Louis Mertz Lester Bailey Sam Jones

References

Sources