Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA | May 15, 1926
In May 1926, Charley Paddock, the best or at least the most colorful sprinter of the 1920s, considered retiring because his affairs in publishing, film, and socializing took up his time and interest. Paddock planned to retire at the Southern Pacific Association AAU championships, part of the US regional championship series.
Paddock sprinted to victory in the 100 yards in his “farewell race” at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with a time of 9.5. According to IAAF rules, the result was rounded up to 9.6, equaling the world record (AAU accepted the result as 9.5). The time encouraged the Pasadena native enough that he decided to continue his sprinting career. The race runner-up, Charley Borah, also clocked 9.5.
There was lengthy debate about who actually won the race. USC's rookie Borah led by half a meter just a couple of meters before the finish, until Paddock performed his famous finishing leap, which made it appear even. The judges' panel declared Paddock the winner, but the audience disliked the decision and roared furiously “Robber! Robber!”.
Borah didn't dwell on the loss but sprinted to victory in the straight 220 yards with the season's fourth-fastest time of 20.9 (equivalent to 21.3 for 200 meters on a curved track).
Pomona College's Robert Maxwell excelled in the high hurdles, winning with the season's seventh-fastest time of 14.7. Maxwell also won the 220-yard hurdles. Two years later, he was selected for the Amsterdam Olympics in the 400m hurdles but did not reach the final.
1-4 (Spalding's Athletic Almanac)