Stettin, August 9-10, 1924
The German Athletics Championships in 1924 were held in early August in Stettin, now Szczecin in Poland. The hastily prepared track was in poor condition due to its newness, and the organisation of the event was far from perfect.
With Germans still banned from the Paris Olympics, these championships were the main focus.
Otto Peltzer was gradually establishing himself as Germany's top middle-distance runner. In Stettin, he won both the 800 and 1500 metres for the second consecutive year. Representing a local Stettin club, he was essentially competing on home turf.
Hubert Houben, meanwhile, was content to simply secure victory in the 100 metres. He also claimed the 4x100m relay title with his team, Preussen Krefeld.
One of the most intense contests was witnessed in the 5000 metres. Wilhelm Husen (15:23.7) just edged out Peter Frandsen (15:25.0) in a thrilling finish. Emil Bedarff, who had improved the German national records at both 5000 and 10,000 metres in the previous two championships, had a disastrous race (fifth in the 5000m, and did not finish the 10,000m).
A relatively significant athletics career began in 1924. The 196-centimetre tall Hans Hoffmeister claimed his first medal (silver) at the German Championships. In the build-up to the Amsterdam Olympics, he threw the longest discus ever, but it was not ratified as a world record. Hoffmeister had cleverly manipulated the throwing implement. Later in life, Hoffmeister became a successful cartoonist. His athletic career was cut short for political reasons a year after the Nazis came to power.
Medallists (Wikipedia)
Helsingin Sanomat, August 20, 1924 (in Finnish)