The men's 400 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 third time the event was held. 12 athletes from 3 nations participated. The competition was held on August 29, 1904. The event was won by

Harry Hillman Harry Livingston Hillman Jr. (September 8, 1881 – August 9, 1945) was an American athlete and winner of three gold medals at the 1904 Summer Olympics. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, Hillman was a member of three Olympic tea ...

of the United States, the third time in a row that a different American had won the event. The Americans swept the medals, the first time that feat had been achieved in the men's 400 metres.

Background

This was the third time the event was held. None of the runners from 1900 returned.

of the United States and

Percival Molson Captain (armed forces), Captain Percival Talbot "Percy" Molson, Military Cross, MC (August 14, 1880 – July 5, 1917) was a Canadians, Canadian star athlete and soldier. After an outstanding sports career with McGill University, Molson joined ...

of Canada were the favorites; Molson had beaten Hillman at the 1904 Canadian championships. Molson was Canada's first-ever runner in the Olympic men's 400 metres. The United States made its third appearance in the event, the only nation to compete in it at the first three Olympic Games.

Competition format

The competition consisted of a single race with all runners starting together.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1904 Summer Olympics. ''(*)'' 440 yards (= 402.34 m) ''(**)'' This track was 500 metres in circumference.

set a new Olympic record with 49.2 seconds.

Results

Groman took the lead at 70 metres; Hillman, Waller, Poage, and Prinstein formed a group behind him while the other six runners formed a second group further back. Hillman passed Groman at the halfway mark, with Fleming moving up into the first group. Poage attempted to take the lead in the last turn, but Fleming and Waller blocked him and he fell back to the train group before the final sprint. Hillman finished "about three yards" ahead of Waller, with Groman "on Waller's heels" and Fleming and Prinstein "almost together, another two yards back."

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 400 Metres Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics 400 metres at the Olympics