Stadium, Stockholm, August 24–25, 1929
Sweden faced a hectic series of international matches at the end of August. First, they competed against Norway, then less than a week later, against Finland.
Swedish junior star Eric Wennström shocked everyone by running the 110-metre hurdles in a world record time of 14.4. This improved the previous record, set by South Africa’s George Weightman-Smith at the Amsterdam Olympics, by 0.2 seconds. Swedish officials hesitated to submit the result for international recognition. "It’s such a huge improvement—it probably won’t be ratified," they fretted in the office. However, they eventually sent it in, and the response came almost immediately: no issues.
Wennström showed excellent late-season form in his next races as well, twice defeating Finland’s Bengt Sjöstedt—first in the Finnkampen and then in Tampere.
However, Wennström turned out to be just a one-season wonder. He never reached the same results again. "He gained weight and stiffened up," wrote Finnish track and field journalist Martti Jukola.
Swedes had a history of overlooking track and field world record holders when selecting their Sports Personality of the Year, long before Armand Duplantis. Dagens Nyheter chose a skier and a figure skater instead, leaving Wennström empty-handed.
There were other strong performances in the event. Norway’s Hjalmar Johannessen set a national record of 1:53.6 in the 800, defeating Sweden’s Birger Kraft in what was perhaps the toughest battle of the meet.
Swedish long jumper Olof Hallberg landed at 7.51 (24-7¾), placing fourth in the world rankings, surrounded by seven Americans. Hammer thrower Ossian Skiöld hurled 51.30 (168-4), the fifth-longest throw in the world that year.
Sweden won the match, though Norway started strong on the first day. By the second day, the energy of the Norwegians had run out.
Helsingin Sanomat, August 26, 1929 (in Finnish)
Uusi Suomi, August 26, 1929 (in Finnish)
Hufvudstadsbladet, August 26, 1929 (in Swedish)