Pershing Field (Reservoir Park), Jersey City, NJ, August 26, 1922
McGoldrick Field, Brooklyn, New York, October 8, 1922
Van Cortlandt Park, New York, NY, November 11, 1922
Track and field events in the Metropolitan Association typically took a break during the heat of July in the 1920s, but by August, athletes were back on the track. This included the regional championship competitions in the Metropolitan Association in New York and its surrounding areas.
Olympian George Cornetta defeated Ville Ritola in a sprint finish over five miles. Finland also claimed the bronze, as Ilmari Prim finished third behind Ritola.
Walter Gegan hopped through the 440-yard race in 57.3 seconds, which placed him sixth in the world rankings for the year. Gegan was an anomaly in American track and field, initially starting his career running hurdles before suddenly switching to the 3000-meter steeplechase, where he struggled in the heats at the Amsterdam Olympics. He did not make it to another Olympic Games, as he passed away from sepsis in 1931.
Patrick McDonald, the shot put winner at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and a formidable New York policeman, won the shot put, hammer throw, and the weight throw. Stockholm hammer throw champion Matt McGrath had to settle for a loss in the Metropolitan weight throw.
Ilmari Prim secured what might have been his career’s sweetest victory by outrunning Boston Marathon winner Frank Zuna in October in Brooklyn, competing for the New York Championship in the 10-mile race. Prim set a hard pace after the first mile, and the rest of the field was unable to follow. Ritola did not participate, as he was focused on a New York road run, held at the same time.
In November, the New York cross-country championships took place at Van Cortlandt Park. It was a celebration for the Finns and Finnish-descendants, with Ritola winning easily and pulling ahead of second-place Ilmari Prim by a minute and a half over the approximately 10-kilometer course. According to the New York Times race report, the "Wolf of Peräseinäjoki" chugged along like a locomotive. August Fager finished fifth, Ville Kyrönen sixth, and Otto Laakso seventh.
Ritola paid little attention to a summons to a hearing regarding Finnish eligibility for the cross-country event. Ville did not attend, and the matter was not brought up again afterward.
1–4 (Spalding’s Athletic Almanac)