West Coast Relays

Pole vault records are constantly being improved regardless of the decade. Paris Olympic champion Lee Barnes soared to a new world record of 4.30m (14-1 1/4) in Cornelius Warmerdam's hometown of Fresno, California, proving he is ready to defend the Olympic gold he brought home as a teenager from France. Having found good spring form, Ward Edmonds swung himself to second place in the Fresno meet with a result of 4.26 (14-0), the third-best mark of all time.

Young man Barnes from the University of Southern California steadily raised his performance level in the interim years following Paris. In 1926, he cleared 4.16m (13-7 3/4), and the following year, 4.20m (13-9). 

He also had side gigs. In 1927, he appeared as a stunt double in Buster Keaton's silent film "College." His task was to jump with a pole through a house window. Amateur rules were apparently not violated, as the gates to the Amsterdam Olympics remained open.

Kuck Surpasses Rose's Shot Put Mark – Not Accepted

John Kuck hurled the brass ball to 15.55 ( 51-0½). The mark surpassed by one centimeter the world record held by Ralph Rose, which was already 19 years old. For some reason, Kuck's put was not ratified as an official world record. The Kansas man rectified the situation later by taking Olympic gold in Amsterdam and launching the ball to an official world record of 15.87 (52-0¾)

The 100 yards saw a tight and fast race. Three-time US champion Charley Borah defeated the muscular Weldon Draper. Both were clocked at 9.6, which equaled the seventh fastest 100-yard or meter dash of the season in the world.

Newspaper Stories

• AP, April 29, 1928

• Berkeley Daily Gazette, April 30, 1928

• Helsingin Sanomat, April 4, 1928 (in Finnish)

• AP, May 13, 1928  (a photo of Barnes' jump)

• Helsingin Sanomat, May 15, 1928  (in Finnish)

• Helsingin Sanomat, May 27,  1928  (in Finnish)