Date | 1 – 2 July 1904 | |
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Status | Olympic | |
Location | Francis Field, Washington University, St. Louis | |
Participants | 118 from 2 countries | |
Format | Each athlete competed in the long jump, shot put, and 100 yard dash as part of the overall combined exercises. Scoring was basically from 0-10 for each of the three events. In the long jump, 18 feet earned 10 points, and 1/10th point was added or subtracted for each 1/10th foot short of or beyond 18 feet. In the shot put, 30 feet () earned 10 points, and 1/10th point was added or subtracted for each 1/5th foot short of or beyond 30 feet. In the 100 yard dash, 11.0 seconds earned 10 points, and « point was added for subtracted for each 1/5th second faster or slower than 11.0 seconds. |
This event was an offshoot of the individual all-around for apparatus and field sports, with the scores in the three track & field events (100 yards, long jump, shot put) used to determine placements. The event could really be considered a track & field multi-event, sort of an early triathlon, and it could be included within the track & field events. Scoring was on a 0-10 scale, but athletes could score more than the maximum in all three events.
Unlike the combined all-around and all-around for apparatus work, which were dominated by German-speaking gymnasts, the Americans were pre-eminent in the field sports, taking the top six places, and 18 of the top 20. The title went to Indianapolis’ Max Emmerich, who scored well over the maximum with 35.7 points.