Harry E. Gissing (December 3, 1890 - November 29, 1963) was an American

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes 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 the jumping events ...

athlete, a member of the

New York Athletic Club The New York Athletic Club is a private social club and athletic club in New York state. Founded in 1868, the club has approximately 8,600 members and two facilities: the City House, located at 180 Central Park South in Manhattan, and Travers ...

, Mohawk Athletic Club, and the

Irish American Athletic Club The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York, at the beginning of the 20th century. Early years Established on January 30, 1898, originally as the "Greater New York Irish Athletic Association", ...

. In 1911, he was part of a world's record setting team in the 4x400 meter relay race.

Biography

In 1908, Gissing won the A.A.U half-mile championship with a time of 1 minute 56 and 4/5 seconds. He came in first place in the 1,000 yard National A.A.U indoor championship three years running, 1908, 1909 and 1910. In 1909 Gissing also won the 880 yard New York Metropolitan A.A.U championship, and came in second place in the 880 yard Senior National A.A.U championship. As the anchor of the

relay team, on many occasions he "turned apparent defeat into victory." On April 9, 1911, Gissing was part of the

4x440 yard relay team that broke the world's record at Celtic Park,

Queens, New York Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long I ...

, and set the first

IAAF World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...

- recognized world record for 4x440 yard or 4x400 meter relay race, with a time of 3 minutes and 18 4/5 seconds. The other members of the world's record setting team were;

James Rosenberger James Maher Rosenberger (April 6, 1887 – January 1, 1946) was an American track and field athlete and a member of the Irish American Athletic Club. He was born in New York City and died in Brooklyn, New York. In 1909, at the Amateur Athletic ...

, Harry Schaaf and

Mel Sheppard Melvin Whinfield "Peerless Mel" Sheppard (September 5, 1883 – January 4, 1942) was an American athlete, member of the Irish American Athletic Club, and winner of four gold medals and one silver medal at the 1908 Summer Olympic ...

br> Annual Track & Field Dinner Journal, 1911.
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References

External links

Winged Fist Organization
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gissing, Harry 1890 births 1963 deaths American male middle-distance runners World record setters in athletics (track and field)