USA (AAU)

Double Winner Paddock

Perhaps the most competitive meet of the year took place in early July in Pasadena, California, where the U.S. Championships (AAU) were held. The world's fastest man, Charley Paddock, claimed victory on his home turf in both the 100 and 220 yards, just as he had promised in his newspaper articles before the competition. In the short sprint, he matched the 100-yard world record with a time of 9.6, which is roughly equivalent to a 10.5-second performance in a 100-meter race.

However, Paddock did not keep his second promise. He had announced in the spring of 1921 that he would retire after the AAU Championship. Nevertheless, he was seen competing for several more years.

Moral World Record 

In the long hurdles, the medalists from the Antwerp Olympic Games met in a rematch. Bronze medalist August Desch narrowly edged out silver medalist John Norton. Desch's time was announced as 53.4, which according to the rules of the time was not accepted as a world record because two hurdles were knocked over during the race.

In the two-lap race (880 yards), the pace was intense. Alan Helffrich exploded his kick with 150 meters to go and won with a world-leading time of 1:54.2.won with a world-leading time of 1:54.2. Three years later, this guy born in Yonkers, New York, anchored the United States to Olympic gold in the 4x400-meter relay at the Paris Olympics. The following year, Helffrich was the only one able to defeat Paavo Nurmi during his American tour.

Ville Ritola's tough opponent Joie Ray followed the main group for a couple of laps in the mile. Then he got tired of their perfumes and went his own way. University champion James Connolly woke up too late and had no chance of catching the fugitive on the final lap.

The future three-time Olympic gold medalist, Bud Houser, showed that his victories at the Southern Pacific AAU championships were no fluke. Still a high schooler, he heaved the brass ball 14.32 (46-11¾) and went on to beat Patrick McDonald, a grizzled veteran in his thirties. Houser tossed the Greek platter for a result that earned him a fourth-place finish.

Johnson Prevails in Pittsburgh Cross Country

The U.S. championships were still contested in some additional events in the fall. Michael Devaney, a New Jersey native and two-time Olympian, won his third title in the two-mile steeplechase in September, nearly on his home turf at Travers Island, New York.

African American Earl Johnson won his first and only U.S. cross-country championship in Pittsburgh in November. He swept up a string of victories, having also won the 10-mile championship a few weeks earlier, as well as the five-mile title in the summer.

In the 10-mile race and the Pittsburgh cross-countgry event, a new contender, Ville Ritola, a Finnish-born carpenter who had moved to New York, secured second place and his first and second U.S. championship medals. Johnson and Ritola struggled fiercely for 10 championships until Johnson broke away from the carpenter on the last lap.

Results

• 1-6 (Track And Field Statistics)

• 1-6 (Spalding's Athletic Almanac)

• 1-6 (Track And Field News)

Newspaper Stories

• Great Falls Tribune 5.7.1921 

• Los Angeles Herald, July 7, 1921

• The Lewiston Daily, July 8, 1921

• Uusi Suomi 23.7.1921 (in Finnish)

• Idrottsbladet 1.8.1921 (in Swedish)