Harry "Doc" J. Huff (June 3, 1880 – May 29, 1964) was an American

athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

. He competed at the

1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, United Kingdom, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were ori ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. He was born in Cedar Twp., Van Buren Co., Iowa to James K Polk Huff and Eleanor Virginia née: Sheldon Huff, and died in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

. In the

100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...

, Huff won his first round heat with a time of 11.4 seconds, one of the slower winning times. He dropped his time to 11.1 seconds in his semifinal race to finish second behind eventual silver medallist

James Rector John "James" Alcorn Rector (June 22, 1884 – March 10, 1949) was an American athlete. He was the first Arkansas-born athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. While competing he was a University of Virginia student and went there to train with ...

who tied the Olympic record at 10.8 seconds. Huff also won his preliminary heat in the

200 metres The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightl ...

with a time 22.8 seconds. He came in last in his three-man semifinal race, running the distance in 23.0 seconds.

References

Sources

* * * * 1881 births 1964 deaths People from Van Buren County, Iowa Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics Olympic track and field athletes of the United States American male sprinters USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners {{US-sprint-athletics-bio-stub