Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 110 metres hurdles


The men's 110 metres hurdles was the shorter of two hurdling events at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. It was dominated by the American runners. The competition was held from Thursday, July 23, 1908 to Saturday, July 25, 1908. 25 hurdlers from ten nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.
Ten sets of hurdles were set on the course. The hurdles were 3 feet, 6 inches tall and were placed ten yards apart beginning fifteen yards from the starting line.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.
World Record15.0' Thaddeus ShidelerSt. Louis June 11, 1904
Olympic Record15.4 Alvin KraenzleinParis July 14, 1900

' unofficial 120 yards
Forrest Smithson equalled the Olympic record when he ran 15.4 seconds in his semifinal. In the final he set the first official world record in this event with 15.0 seconds.

Results

Heats

The first round heats were held on July 23, 1908, making the short hurdles one of the last events to begin. The Americans won every race in which they competed. The British team also had a strong showing, winning any time that there was no American in the race.

Heat 1

Healey won by four yards after leading from the start.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Alfred Healey15.8
2Henry St Aubyn Murray
3Doug StupartUnknown

Heat 2

Garrels won by seven yards.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1John Garrels16.2
2Arthur Halligan

Heat 3

Groenings led by five yards at the finish.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Oswald Groenings16.4
2Georgios Skoutarides

Heat 4

Kiely had no competition in the first round.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Laurence KielyWalkover

Heat 5

Rand and Powell were even for most of the race. Powell hit the ninth hurdle, slowing him just enough for Rand to take the lead and win.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1William Rand15.8
2Kenneth Powell
3Ted SavageUnknown

Heat 6

Lemming fell during the race, allowing Walters to win while easing up.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Wallis Walters17.8
Oscar Lemming

Heat 7

The seventh heat was another in which there was no competition.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1William KnyvettWalkover

Heat 8

Halbart won without competition.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Fernand HalbartWalkover

Heat 9

Ahearne was the fourth runner to win without a contest.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Tim AhearneWalkover

Heat 10

Smithson won by ten yards.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Forrest Smithson15.8
2Nándor Kovács

Heat 11

Blijstad fell, allowing Hussey to win with a jog.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Eric Hussey16.8
Wilhelm Blijstad

Heat 12

Kinahan had an easy win by ten yards.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Cecil Kinahan16.8
2Oscar Guttormsen

Heat 13

Howe and Leader were even over the hurdles, but Howe edged out Leader in the straight.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Leonard Howe15.8
2Edward Leader

Heat 14

Shaw won without a contest.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Arthur ShawWalkover

Semifinals

The semifinal round was held on July 24, 1908. Each of the four heats of the second round were won by American runners.

Semifinal 1

Shaw took the lead at the first set of hurdles, finishing about five metres ahead of Hussey.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Arthur Shaw15.6
2Eric Hussey
3David Walters
4Oswald GroeningsUnknown

Semifinal 2

Smithson had no trouble winning this heat, tying the Olympic record as he did so.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Forrest Smithson15.4, =
2William Knyvett
3Leonard Howe

Semifinal 3

Healey led for most of the race, with Rand close behind, but Healey was unable to clear the ninth hurdle cleanly, allowing Rand to pass him and win by a foot.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1William Rand15.8
2Alfred Healey
3Laurence KielyUnknown
4Tim AhearneUnknown

Semifinal 4

Halbert pulled up lame, and Garrels won by 15 yards.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1John Garrels15.8
2Cecil Kinahan
Fernand Halbert

Final

Smithson pulled away from his countrymen at every set of hurdles to win by five meters and set a new world record.
RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
Forrest Smithson15.0
John Garrels
Arthur Shaw
4William Rand