Lon Myers
Lon Myers in 1880 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Birth name | Laurence Eugene Myers |
Nationality | American |
Born | February 16, 1858 Richmond, Virginia, USA |
Died | February 16, 1899(1899-02-16) (aged 41) |
Sport | |
Sport | Running |
Event | 50 yards to one mile |
Club | Manhattan Athletic Club |
Turned pro | 1886 |
Achievements and titles | |
National finals | 15 United States, 10 Canadian, and 3 British national championships |
Highest world ranking | World records at:
|
Laurence Eugene "Lon" Myers (February 16, 1858 – February 16, 1899) was an American sprinter and middle distance runner.[1][2]
Myers won 28 national championships. He also set world records at 11 different distances, and held every American record for races 50 yards to one mile Myers set a world quarter-mile record while running the final 120 yards without his right shoe, and finished another race that he won running sideways (in conversation with a runner who had boasted that he would defeat Myers).
Early life
Myers was Jewish, and was born in Richmond, Virginia, to Solomon H. Myers, a clerk.[1][2][3] He was in the first graduating class of Richmond High School.[2] His father moved the family to Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1875 after he graduated high school, and then to New York City, where he became a bookkeeper.[2][4]
Track career
Amateur
During his 21-year career, Myers held every American record for races 50 yards to one mile.[2][3] He won 15 United States national championships, 10 Canadian national championships, and 3 British national championships.[2][3][4] From 1880 to 1888, he held the world records in the 100-yard, 440-yard, and 880-yard races.[3]
Myers began running competitively in 1878, for the Knickerbocker Yacht Club. He then ran for the bulk of his career for the Manhattan Athletic Club.[2][5][6]
Myers was the first runner to run the quarter-mile in under 50 seconds (49.2), doing so in 1879.[3][7] On September 20, 1879, he ran the quarter-mile in 49.5 seconds despite running the final 120 yards without his right shoe, setting a world record.[8] At the 1879 U.S. Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national championships, Myers won the 220 (22.75), 440 (49.2), and 880, setting records in each event.[2][3]
In 1880, he won the AAU national championship 220, 440, and 880 races and the 100-yard dash, all in the same day.[2][3] He won the same four races three days later at the Canadian Nationals.[2][3][6] That year, he set an American record in the 100-yard dash (10.0 seconds; tying two others), and world records in the 250 (26.25 seconds), 300, 320 (35.125 seconds), 500 (58 seconds), 600 (1:11.4), 660 (1:22.0), 880 (1:56.125), 1,000 (2:18.25), and mile (4:29.50).[2][8] Unusual distances in some of the races were a product of the fact that tracks at the time varied in length.[2]
In 1881, after a runner in England boasted as to how he would fare against Myers in a 440 race, Myers finished the race running sideways and asking the fellow whether he might not be able to run faster—before beating him by five yards, in 48.6 seconds.[2] That year he also lowered the world record in the 880 to 1:55.5 (beating his nearest competitor by 100 yards), and the world record in the 1,000 to 2:13.[2] In 1881 he also set the world record in the half mile (1:56); he lowered it to 1:55.4 in 1884.[7] He also set the world record in the 350, at 36.8 seconds, and 1,000 yards, at 2:13.0.[2]
Walter George, the top British miler, faced Myers over a series of three races in November 1882. A total of 130,000 attended these races at the Polo Grounds in New York City. In the first, Myers beat George 1:56 3⁄5 to 1:57 in the 880 yards. The next week, George led all the way in defeating his rival 4:21 2⁄5 to 4:27 3⁄5 in the mile. In the final 3/4 mile showdown, 60,000 watched George and Myers battle on a cold day on a bad track. George led narrowly with a 61 2⁄5 and 2:02¾ before Myers took the lead. But Myers staggered at the end and collapsed after crossing in 3:13 – behind George who won in 3:10½. Both fell unconscious after the race and George described it as "the most gruelling race I ever ran."
Myers subsequently was with greater frequency not allowed to participate in some races, as few runners wanted to compete against him.[2] In 1882, he set world records at 250 yards (26.0), 400 yards (43.625), and 800 yards (1:44.4), and American records in a sixth-of-a-mile hurdle race (37.125) and at 700 yards (1:31).[2] In 1884, he set the American record in the 50-yard dash, at 5.5 seconds, and the 880, at 1:55.4.[2] In 1885, after setting world records in the 440 on grass (49.4), the 840 on grass (1:48.6), and the 880 on grass (1:56.5), he announced that he intended to retire.[2]
In his career he set world records in 11 different distances: the 250 (26.0 seconds; 1882), 350 (36.8; 1881), 400 (43.675; 1882), 440 on grass (49.4; 1885), 500 (58.0; 1880), 600 (1:11.4; 1882), 660 (1:22.0; 1880), 800 (1:44.4; 1882), 840 on grass (1:48.6; 1885), 880 on grass (1:56.5; 1885), and 1,000 (2:13.0; 1881).[2] He also set American records in the 50-yard dash (5.5 seconds, amateur record; 1884), 100-yard dash (10.0; tying two others; 1880), 200 (20.3; 1881), 300 (31.375; 1881), 440 (48.6; 1881), 700 (1:31; 1882), 880 (1:55.4; 1884), 1,320 (3:13, 1882), and the mile (4:22.6; 1882).[1][2]
Professional
The press in England had cast doubt on Myers' performances, asserting that Americans were deficient in the ability to time races properly, and questioning the accuracy of American watches.[2] Myers came out of retirement and became a professional in 1886 to run against English champion Walter George, the world record holder in the mile. George had become a professional two years earlier, and had challenged Myers. They competed in the "Middle Distance Championship of the World", before thousands of fans at Madison Square Garden.[2][7]
Myers beat George at 1,000 yards, 1,320 yards, and 1 mile, and received the $3,000 ($102,000 in current dollar terms) prize.[7]
The following year Myers faced George in the same contest in Australia at the half, 3/4 and full mile. Myers won the first event, and George won the other two.[9]
Myers died of pneumonia on his 41st birthday, in New York City.[2][4][7]
Halls of fame
He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974 and into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.[1][3]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Hall of Fame; Laurence (Lon) Myers". USATF. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Joe D. Willis and Richard G. Wettan (November 2, 1975). "L. E. Myers, "World's Greatest Runner"" (PDF). Journal of Sport History. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Lon Myers". International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c Horvitz, Peter S. (2007). "Lon Myers". The Big Book of Jewish Sports Heroes: An Illustrated Compendium of Sports History and the 150 Greatest Jewish Sports Stars. SP Books. pp. 200–2. ISBN 978-1-56171-907-5. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
- ^ "Modern Olympian Games. – The Fleet Of Foot And The Strong-Limbed Contesting In Gilmore's Garden For Supremacy Several Exciting Struggles A Large Attendance" (PDF). The New York Times. January 4, 1879. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b Frederick W. Janssen (1885). History of American amateur athletics. Charles R. Bourne. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Ralph Hickok (February 18, 2009). "Biography – Lon Myers". HickokSports.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
- ^ a b Edward Seldon Sears (2001). Running through the ages. McFarland. ISBN 9780786450770. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
- ^ Lovesey, Peter (1968). The kings of distance: a study of five great runners. p. 68.
External links
- USATF bio
- v
- t
- e
New York Athletic Club
- 1876: Charles McIvor
- 1877: William Wilmer
- 1878: Fred Saportas
NAAAA
- 1879: Beverly Value
- 1880-81: Lon Myers
- 1882-83: Arthur Waldron
- 1884-86ro: Malcolm Ford
- 1887: Charles Sherrill
- 1888Note 1: Fred Westing
Amateur Athletic Union
- 1888Note 1: Fred Westing
- 1889-90: John Owen
- 1891: Luther Cary
- 1892: Harry Jewett
- 1893: Charles Stage
- 1894: Tom Lee
- 1895-97: Bernie Wefers
- 1898: Frank Jarvis
- 1899: Arthur Duffey
- 1900: Maxie Long
- 1901: Frank Sears
- 1902: Pat Walsh
- 1903: Archie Hahn
- 1904: Lawson Robertson
- 1905: Charles Parsons
- 1906: Charles Seitz
- 1907: Harold Huff
- 1908: William Hamilton
- 1909: William Martin
- 1910: James Rosenberger
- 1911: Gwin Henry
- 1912-13: Howard Drew
- 1914-15: Jo Loomis
- 1916-17: Andy Ward
- 1918: Arthur Henke
- 1919: William Hayes
- 1920OT: Loren Murchison
- 1921: Charley Paddock
- 1922: Robert McAllister
- 1923: Loren Murchison
- 1924: Charley Paddock
- 1925: Frank Hussey
- 1926: Charley Borah
- 1927: Chester Bowman
- 1928OT: Frank Wykoff
- 1929-30: Eddie Tolan
- 1931: Frank Wykoff
- 1932OT: Ralph Metcalfe
- 1933-34: Ralph Metcalfe
- 1935: Eulace Peacock
- 1936: Jesse Owens
- 1937: Perrin Walker
- 1938: Ben Johnson
- 1939: Clyde Jeffrey
- 1940: Harold Davis
- 1941: Barney Ewell
- 1942-43: Harold Davis
- 1944: Buddy Young
- 1945: Barney Ewell
- 1946-47: Bill Mathis
- 1948: Barney Ewell
- 1949: Andy Stanfield
- 1950: Art Bragg
- 1951: Jim Golliday
- 1952: Dean Smith
- 1953-54: Art Bragg
- 1955-56: Bobby Morrow
- 1957: Leamon King
- 1958: Bobby Morrow
- 1959-60: Ray Norton
- 1961: Frank Budd
- 1962-64: Bob Hayes
- 1965: George Anderson
- 1966: Charles Greene
- 1967: Jim Hines
- 1968: Charles Greene
- 1969-70: Ivory Crockett
- 1971: Del Meriwether
- 1972: Robert Taylor
- 1973-74: Steve Williams
- 1975: Don Quarrie (JAM) * Steve Williams
- 1976: Chris Garpenborg (SWE) *Robert Woods
- 1977: Don Quarrie (JAM) * Steve Williams
- 1978: Clancy Edwards
- 1979: James Sanford
The Athletics Congress
- 1980: Stanley Floyd
- 1981-83: Carl Lewis
- 1984: Sam Graddy
- 1985: Kirk Baptiste
- 1986: Carl Lewis
- 1987: Mark Witherspoon
- 1988: Emmit King
- 1989: Leroy Burrell
- 1990: Carl Lewis
- 1991: Leroy Burrell
- 1992OT: Dennis Mitchell
USA Track & Field
- 1993: Andre Cason
- 1994: Dennis Mitchell
- 1995: Michael Marsh
- 1996OT: Dennis Mitchell
- 1997: Maurice Greene
- 1998: Tim Harden
- 1999: Dennis Mitchell
- 2000OT: Maurice Greene
- 2001: Bernard Williams
- 2002: Maurice Greene
- 2003: Bernard Williams
- 2004OT: Maurice Greene
- 2005: Justin Gatlin
- 2006-08OT: Tyson Gay
- 2009: Mike Rodgers
- 2010-11: Walter Dix
- 2012OT-13: Justin Gatlin
- 2014: Mike Rodgers
- 2015: Tyson Gay
- 2016OT: Justin Gatlin
- 2017: Justin Gatlin
- 2018: Noah Lyles
- 2019: Christian Coleman
- 20212020 OT: Trayvon Bromell
- 2022: Fred Kerley
- 2023: Cravont Charleston
- Note 1: In 1888 both the NAAAA and the AAU held championships
- OT: The 1920, 1928, 1932, and since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
- 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Distance:Until 1927 the event was over 100 yards, and again from 1929-31
- ro:In 1886 the event was won after a run-off