Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 2590 metres steeplechase

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The men's 2590 metres steeplechase was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the only time the event was held at the 2590 metre distance, though the 1900 Summer Olympics had featured a similar event in the 2500 metre steeplechase. The competition was held on August 29, 1904. 7 athletes from 2 nations competed.[1] Jim Lightbody of the United States won the first of his three gold and four overall medals in the 1904 Games. Irishman John Daly took silver, with Lightbody's countryman Arthur L. Newton earning bronze.

Men's 2590 metres steeplechase
at the Games of the III Olympiad
Gold medalist Jim Lightbody
VenueFrancis Field
DatesAugust 29
Competitors7 from 2 nations
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Jim Lightbody  United States
2nd place, silver medalist(s) John Daly  Great Britain
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Arthur L. Newton  United States

Background

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Steeplechase events had been introduced to the Olympics in 1900, with two events at the Paris Games, at 2500 metres and 4000 metres. At St. Louis 1904, there was only one steeplechase event, at 2590 metres. The distance was changed to 3200 metres at London 1908, but the event was removed from the program at Stockholm 1912.

After World War I, steeplechase returned in 1920 at Antwerp at the now-standard distance of 3000 metres; it has been held at that distance ever since.[2]

Irish runner John Daly was the favorite, while American Jim Lightbody was a distance runner who had never competed in a steeplechase before.[2]

Competition format

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The race distance was 2590 metres, with hurdles and a water jump. Only a final was held.[2]

The track was a cinder track 13 mile (536.448m) in length, with one long straightaway.[3]

Records

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

World Record none
Olympic Record 7:34.4(*)   George Orton Paris (FRA) July 15, 1900

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

Schedule

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Date Time Round
Tuesday, 29 August 1904 Final

Results

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Rank Athlete Nation Time
  Jim Lightbody   United States 7:39.6
  John Daly   Great Britain 7:40.6
  Arthur L. Newton   United States 7:45.6
4 Frank Verner   United States Unknown
5–7 Harvey Cohn   United States Unknown
David Curtiss Munson   United States Unknown
Richard Sanford   United States Unknown
George Bonhag   United States DNS
Bernard Gallagher   United States DNS
Alexander Grant   United States DNS
Lacey Hearn   United States DNS
John Purcell   United States DNS

References

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  1. ^ "Athletics at the 1904 St. Louis: Men's 2,590 metres Steeplechase". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "2590 metres Steeplechase, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 8 September 2001.

Sources

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