1,500 metres, Men

As in 1896, the 1,500 metre race was marked by its failure to attract a top field. Scotsman Hugh Welsh had retired and, although several of the top milers were in Paris – George Orton, Alex Grant, and John Cregan (who, between them, would win 12 consecutive AAU miles, from 1892 to 1903) –, none of them contested the 1,500, presumably because it was held on a Sunday.

Britain’s Charles Bennett led through the first lap (500 metres in 1:21.2), trailed closely by the French champion Henry Deloge. The second lap was finished in the dawdling time of 2:56 (1:34.8 for the second 500), with no change in positions. In a wild sprint finish, Bennett was never headed, although he only opened up a lead in the last few metres, running the last lap in a blazing, even for today, 1:10.2 for 500 metres. The time, 4:06.2, was a world record, but it was markedly inferior to Tom Conneff’s amateur mile record of 4:15.6.