Venue White City Stadium | Competitors 60 from 16 nations | |
Dates July 20 (quarterfinals)
July 21 (semifinals)
July 22 (final) | ||
The men's 100 metres was the shortest of the sprint races at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held over the course of three days. The first round was held on 20 July, the semifinals on 21 July, and the final on 22 July.
Contents
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.
(*) unofficial
James Rector (in the 15th heat and the third semi-final) and Reggie Walker (in the first semi-final and final) both equalized the standing Olympic record. Reggie Walker's actual time in the first semi-final was 10.7, but was rounded up to the nearest fifth in accordance with rules in force at the time, so his time was given as 10 4⁄5.
Heats
Times were kept for the winning runner in each heat only. They were measured to the closest 1⁄5 second. The fastest runner advanced to the second round. The competition began at 3 p.m. on 20 July, the seventh day of the Games. A break was taken after the first nine heats to allow for four heats of the 800 metres to be run at 3:30 p.m., with the final eight heats of the 100 metres commencing at 4 p.m.
Heat 1
Duffy won this heat by three yards.
Heat 2
George was ahead of Guttormsen by three yards when he finished.
Heat 3
Cartmell crossed the finish line two yards ahead of Malfait.
Heat 4
Walker was four yards ahead of the field when he finished. Records do not indicate which of the final two runners took which place.
Heat 5
Harmer pulled up lame. Cloughen won by five yards.
Heat 6
May won by about three yards.
Heat 7
Duncan won by a yard.
Heat 8
Stevens beat world record holder Lindberg by inches.
Heat 9
Morton won by about three yards.
Heat 10
Fischer pulled up lame. Kerr won by three yards.
Heat 11
Phillips pulled up lame, allowing Hamilton to win by about three yards.
Heat 12
Huff was only about a yard ahead of Pankhurst when he finished.
Heat 13
Robertson won by about three yards.
Heat 14
Sherman's lead of four yards at the finish was one of the larger leads in the first round.
Heat 15
Rector's Olympic record-tying time gave him a relatively easy victory in the first round.
Heat 16
In one of the slowest of the first round heads, Stark won by about two yards.
Heat 17
Roche won by about two yards.
Semifinals
The fastest runner in each semifinal advanced to the final. The semifinals were begun at 3:35 p.m. on 21 July.
Semifinal 1
Cloughen withdrew to prepare for the 200m heats. Walker took the lead after about 50 metres and crossed the line about a yard in front of May to become the second sprinter to tie the Olympic record at the London Games. His actual time was 10.7, rounded up to the nearest fifth, in accordance with rules in force at the time; therefore, his time was given as 10 4⁄5.
Semifinal 2
Hamilton withdrew to prepare for the 200m heats. Kerr had little difficulty winning this heat, leading by three yards at the finish.
Semifinal 3
Rector again won easily, tying the Olympic record for the second time.
Semifinal 4
Cartmell and Robertson ran a tight race, with Cartmell winning by about a foot.
Final
The final race of the 100 metres began at 4:15 p.m. on 22 July. With Walker and Rector having already tied the Olympic record before the final, it was widely expected that the final race of the 100 metres would be an exciting match between those two runners. Walker got off to a quick lead, but Rector caught him about midway through the race and passed him. Walker responded with a great effort, pulling level with Rector. The two ran side-by-side for about six yards before Walker finally pulled ahead to win by half a yard. Rector finished six inches ahead of Kerr, who finished two yards ahead of Cartmell for third place.