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

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
Athletics at the
1904 Summer Olympics
Track events
60 mmen
100 mmen
200 mmen
400 mmen
800 mmen
1500 mmen
110 m hurdlesmen
200 m hurdlesmen
400 m hurdlesmen
2590 m steeplechasemen
4 mile team racemen
Road events
Marathonmen
Field events
Long jumpmen
Triple jumpmen
High jumpmen
Pole vaultmen
Standing long jumpmen
Standing triple jumpmen
Standing high jumpmen
Shot putmen
Discus throwmen
Hammer throwmen
56 pound weight throwmen
Combined events
Triathlonmen
All-aroundmen

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.

Background

Steeplechase events had been introduced to the Olympics in 1900, with two distances at the Paris Games (2500 metres and 4000 metres). At St. Louis 1904, there was only one steeplechase at 2590 metres. The distance would continue to change with a 3200 metres event at London 1908, before the event was removed entirely in 1912. After World War I, steeplechase returned with the now-standard 3000 metres distance at the 1920 Games; it has been held at that distance ever since.[2]

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

Competition format

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

The track was a cinder track 1/3 mile in length with one long straightaway.[3]

Records

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

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

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

Schedule
Date Time Round
Tuesday, 29 August 1904Final

Results
RankAthleteNationTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)Jim Lightbody United States7:39.6
2nd place, silver medalist(s)John Daly Great Britain7:40.6
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Arthur L. Newton United States7:45.6
4Frank Verner United StatesUnknown
5–7Harvey Cohn United StatesUnknown
David Curtiss Munson United StatesUnknown
Richard Sanford United StatesUnknown
—George Bonhag United StatesDNS
Bernard Gallagher United StatesDNS
Alexander Grant United StatesDNS
Lacey Hearn United StatesDNS
John Purcell United StatesDNS

References
  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. "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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