The men's 1500 metres was a

track and field athletics Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...

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 weig ...

program. It was the third time the event was held. 9 runners from 3 nations participated. The competition was held on September 3, 1904. The event was won by

Jim Lightbody James Davies Lightbody (March 16, 1882 – March 2, 1953) was an American middle distance runner, winner of six Olympic medals (two of which are no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee following its downgrading o ...

of the United States, completing his 1904 treble (800 metres, 1500 metres, and 2590 metres steeplechase). It was the first championship in the event for the United States. The Americans, with 7 of the 9 runners, swept the medals.

Background

This was the third appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. None of the runners from 1900 returned. The field again was fairly undistinguished; 1903 and 1904 AAA champion

Alfred Shrubb Alfred Shrubb (12 December 1879 – 23 April 1964) was an English middle and long-distance runner. During an amateur career lasting from 1899 to 1905 (when he was barred from amateur competition for receiving payment for running) and a professio ...

of Great Britain and multiple AAU one-mile champion Alexander Grant of the United States did not compete.

David Curtiss Munson David Curtiss Munson (May 19, 1884 – September 17, 1953) was an American athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics. He competed for the United States in the 1904 Summer Olympics held in St Louis, United States in the 4 mile te ...

, the 1904 AAU champion, was the favorite going into the Games, though

's victories in the 800 metres and 2590 metres steeplechase made him a likely contender. Canada made its first appearance in the event. The United States made its third appearance, the only nation to have also previously competed in 1896 and 1900.

Competition format

The competition consisted of a single race. The track was a cinder track The track was a cinder track mile (536.448m) in length, with one long straightaway.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1904 Summer Olympics.

set a new Olympic record and a new unofficial world record at 4:05.4.

Schedule

Results

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 1500 Metres Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics 1500 metres at the Olympics