IC4A

In late May, a gathering of the United States' top collegiate track and field athletes assembled once again at Harvard University's field in Cambridge to compete for the IC4A organization's championships. The performance level this time was somewhat subdued, likely influenced by the looming Olympic trials just three weeks away.

The only double winner in the track events was George Hill from Pennsylvania, who stormed to victory in both the 100 and 220 yards, although his times were rather unimpressive. He attempted to qualify for the Paris Olympics but fell short in the semifinals of the U.S. trials.

William Comins from Yale University defended his IC4A championship by leaping 7.51 (24-7¾), earning him the fourth spot on the year's performance list. Comins was a key factor in Yale's team victory. However, at the Paris Olympics, things went awry as Comins failed to register a valid jump.

The 15-Meter Barrier Broken at IC4A

Versatile thrower Glenn Hartranft of Stanford made history by being the first in the IC4A timeline to surpass the 15-meter mark in the shot put. The scoreboard displayed a mark of 15.08 (49-6). Hartranft won by the narrowest possible margin, as Ralph Hills of Princeton University landed almost in the same pit with his throw of 15.07 (49-5¼).

In the discus, Hartranft threw to a world-leading mark of 48.18 (158-2). This made him the second double winner of the meet. However, the result was not recognized as a world record due to excessive wind. The same rule could be applied even a century later. The competition was fierce on a global scale, as the future Olympic champion Bud Houser also threw 47.23  (154-11). In the discus qualification, James Arthur tossed 47.15 (154-9), placing him among the top six in the world for the 1924 season.

At the Paris Olympics, the tables turned. Houser won both the shot put and the discus. In the shot put, Hartranft secured a silver medal, and in the discus, the South Dakota lad had to settle for sixth place.

The team competition trophy was carried this time to Yale University's display case. It was about time, as it had been roughly twenty years since their last victory.