State Field, Ames, IA, May 17, 1924
The world record in the 220-yard hurdles on a straight track edged closer to the 23-second barrier. On May 17, Charles Brookins ran the low hurdles in an even 23.0 during an intercollegiate meet among Iowa universities. The future Olympic gold medalist in the long hurdles, Morgan Taylor from Grinnell College, fell short by about five meters.
Several strong results were disqualified in the spring of 1924, often due to tailwinds or hurdles being knocked over. However, Brookins' world record was smoothly ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Later that summer, Brookins was disqualified in the 400-meter hurdles at the Paris Olympics for a lane violation, allowing Erik Wilén of Finland to claim silver. The Midwest produced numerous strong hurdlers at the time, and Brookins himself hailed from Iowa.
In the rarely run 200-meter/220-yard hurdles, the hurdles stand 76 centimeters (30 inches) tall. In the 400-meter/440-yard hurdles, the clearance height increases 91 centimeter (36 inches), while in the 110-meter hurdles, men must jump over hurdles 107 centimeters (42 inches) high.