The men's 10 miles walk race was held at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. This was the only time the event was held. The competition was held on Thursday, July 16, 1908, and on Friday, July 17, 1908. The competition was held in two rounds. There were two heats in the first round, with the top four in each heat advancing to the final. 25 race walkers from eight nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.Official report, p. 32.
Records This was the Olympic debut of racewalking at this distance. The world record for the 10-mile racewalk at the time was 1:17:40 by E. E. Merrill.
George Larner and Ernest Webb both broke the previous world record mark in the final, with Larner setting a new world record of 1:15:57.4.
Results
First round
The first round heats were held on Thursday, July 16, 1908.
Heat 1
Carter, Larner, and Spencer intentionally drew even to finish in a line. Carter had been in second place, followed by Spencer and then Larner before they did so.
Place Name Nation Time 1 Ernest Webb 1:20:18.8 2 Fred Carter 1:21:25.4 Ernest Larner 1:21:25.4 Edward Spencer 1:21:25.4 5 Arthur Rowland 1:21:57:6 6 Thomas Hammond 1:23:44.0 7 Paul Gunia 1:26:09.4 — Jo Goetzee Did not finish Arne Højme Did not finish Piet Soudyn Did not finish Willem Winkelman Did not finish Alfred Yeoumans Disqualified
Heat 2
Place Name Nation Time 1 George Larner 1:18:19.0 2 Ralph Harrison 1:18:21.2 3 Harry Kerr 1:18:40.2 4 William Palmer 1:19:04.0 5 Godwin Withers 1:19:22.4 6 Sidney Schofield 1:21:07.4 7 Piet Ruimers 1:27:38.8 8 Emmerich Rath 1:30:33.8The time appears on the official report as "go min. 33 sec." — Jack Butler Did not finish George Goulding Did not finish Jan Huijgen Did not finish Einar Rothman Did not finish Charles Vestergaard Did not finish
Final The final was held on Friday, July 17, 1908.
Place Name Nation Time 1 George Larner 1:15:57.4 2 Ernest Webb 1:17:31.0 3 Edward Spencer 1:21:20.2 4 Fred Carter 1:21:20.2 5 Ernest Larner 1:24:26.2 6 William Palmer UnknownListed on the official report as in sixth place, with a dash in the time column, indicating that Palmer finished in sixth place but without the time having been recorded. De Wael lists Palmer with Harrison in the "did not finish" section. — Ralph Harrison Did not start — Harry Kerr Did not start
References
Sources Official Report of the Games of the IV Olympiad (1908). De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Athletics 1908". Accessed 31 March 2006. Available electronically at .