Civic Stadium, Hamilton, ON | June 30–July 2, 1928
A relatively unknown local talent from British Columbia, Percy Williams, traveled across the North American continent to the Canadian Olympic Trials and won both the 100 and 200 meters. The times, however, didn't garner much attention outside the hockey nation: 10.6 and 22.0 seconds. At this stage, hardly anyone could have guessed that this was the future double Olympic champion of the Amsterdam Games.
In the Finnish press, the Canadian trials were only noted in a few lines of a news agency dispatch, which, to top it off, was fake news. News outlets claimed that Williams had sprinted the century in 10.3, undercutting the official world record.
Williams' journey to becoming an Olympic champion was fraught with obstacles. Money was tight. The organizers of the trials paid for Williams' trip to Hamilton, but his coach, Bob Granger, had to finance his own journey by washing dishes on the train.
Other sprinters besides Williams blazed at the Olympic trials. Winnipeg's Jimmy Ball flashed Olympic form by powering to victory in the 400 with a Canadian record time of 48.6. His excellent condition held until Amsterdam, where he won silver in the 400 and bronze in the long relay.
The trials, organized by the Hamilton Olympic Club, featured one of the toughest two-lap races of the season. Future three-time Olympic bronze medalist in the 800 meters, Phil Edwards, squeezed out a victory in his favorite event with a time of 1:52.0, the 11th fastest time ever recorded by the end of the year 1928. Winnipeg's Brant Little and Montreal's Alex Wilson also clocked their personal bests behind him at 1:53.0.
Canada has not generally produced medal-caliber javelin throwers in major global competitions. In 1928, however, some hope arose when 22-year-old Doral Pilling from Alberta hurled the spear to a maple leaf record of 61.68 (202-4). The record throw came on his fifth attempt. For his first three throws, Pilling wore his university (University of Utah) jersey. Before his fifth attempt, he tossed aside the extra clothing, signaling that he was now serious.