John Jacob ("Jack" or J.J.) Eller, Jr. (October 15, 1883 – January 20, 1967) was an American track and field athlete, a member of 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", ...

and a member of the

New York City Police Department The New York City Police Department (NYPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, established on May 23, 1845, is the primary municipal law enforcement agency within the City of New York, the largest and one of the oldest in ...

from 1905 to 1942. Eller was a five-time

Amateur Athletic Union The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is an amateur sports organization based in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. It has ...

champion in the 220 yard low hurdles between 1907 and 1912. He competed as a member of the

U.S. Olympic team United States of America (USA) has sent athletes to every celebration of the modern era Olympic Games, except for the 1980 Summer Olympics, during which it led a boycott to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. American athletes have w ...

in the

1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, be ...

. (John's brother Robert Eller was also an athlete, who competed for

Fordham University Fordham University () is a Private university, private Jesuit universities, Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the The Bronx, Bronx in which its origina ...

and the

. In 1910, Eller was considered 'King of the Hurdlers.' "He held the world's record for the 220 yard, 2 foot 6 inch hurdle made at

Travers Island Travers Island is a former island in Long Island Sound, located in the city of New Rochelle, New York. The island, originally united by a causeway to the mainland, comprises a tract of thirty acres in the Lower Harbor of New Rochelle, situated be ...

in 1908, the time being 24 4/6 seconds and also the 220 yard 3ft. 6in. hurdles made at Celtic Prk in October, 1908 in 27 and 3/5 seconds." Also in 1908, Eller won the 150 yard, 200 yard and 220 yard hurdle indoor championships, securing three first prizes all in one night. In 1909, Eller won both the 120 yard high hurdle and the 220 yard low hurdles, coming close to securing a record in the latter." In 1912 he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 110 metre hurdles competition. He also participated in the pentathlon event but quit after three disciplines, with the victory going to

Jim Thorpe James Francis Thorpe ( Sac and Fox (Sauk): ''Wa-Tho-Huk'', translated as "Bright Path"; May 22 or 28, 1887March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was the first Native ...

.John Eller
. Sports-reference profile

Notes

References

* *
Police Athletes of the Past: John Eller
– '' Spring 3100''

External links

Archives of Irish America – NYUWinged Fist Organization
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eller, John 1883 births 1967 deaths American male hurdlers New York City Police Department officers American pentathletes Olympic track and field athletes of the United States Athletes (track and field) at the 1912 Summer Olympics Track and field athletes from New Jersey People from Cutchogue, New York Track and field athletes from New York City