The men's 200 metres was a

track and field athletics Track and field is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of ...

event held as part of the

Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics At the 1904 Summer Olympics, twenty-five athletics events were contested. A total of 74 medals (25 gold, 25 silver and 24 bronze) were awarded. Multi-event competitions, the all-around and triathlon, were introduced, along with a 56-pound weigh ...

programme. It was the second time the 200 metres was contested. All races of this competition was held on a straight course. 5 athletes from 2 nations participated. The competition was held on August 31, 1904. The United States swept the medals, with

Archie Hahn Charles Archibald Hahn (September 14, 1880 – January 21, 1955) was an American track athlete and is widely regarded as one of the best sprinters of the early 20th century. He is the first athlete to win both the 100m and 200m race at the same ...

earning the second of his three sprint medals in St. Louis.

Nathaniel Cartmell Nathaniel John Cartmell (January 13, 1883 – August 23, 1967), also known as Nat and Nate, was an American Athletics (sport), athlete who won medals at two editions of the Olympic Games. Importantly, Nate was on first racially integrated Athlet ...

took silver and

William Hogenson William P. Hogenson (October 26, 1884 – October 14, 1965) was an American athlete and sprinter, who competed in the early twentieth century. He won a silver medal in Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics in the men's 60 m dash, but ...

earned bronze. It was the second consecutive American victory in the event.

Background

This was the second appearance of the event, which was not held at the first Olympics in 1896 but has been on the program ever since. None of the runners from the 1900 Games returned. The favorite was

, who had already won the 60 metres and was attempting to triple in the sprint events with the 100 metres held a few days later. All five of the runners had been in the top 8 of the 60 metres. Canada made its debut in the event. The United States made its second appearance, the only nation to have competed at both of the first two 200 metres races.

Competition format

There were two rounds, semifinals and a final. The top two runners in each of the two semifinals advanced to the final. The track was a -mile cinder track with one straightaway longer than the other three straights.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1904 Summer Olympics. ^* unofficial 220 yards (= 201.17 m) ^** This track was 500 metres in circumference.

at first equalized the standing Olympic record in the first heat. In the final he set a new Olympic record with 21.6 seconds.

Schedule

Results

Semifinals

The top two finishers in each heat advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

Semifinal 2

Final

Cartmell, Hogenson, and Moulton were all penalized one yard for false starts. Hahn lead from the start, with Cartmell well behind within the first 20 metres. Cartmell began to gain on the field after 75 metres, catching Moulton and Hogenson but not Hahn.

Results summary

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 200 Metres Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics 200 metres at the Olympics