Palmer Stadium, Princeton, NJ, July 3–4, 1936
In honor of the Olympic year, the races were run in metric distances. The future Olympic hero, Jesse Owens, showed impressive form just one month before the Berlin Olympics. He dominated the 100m with 10.4, with Ralph Metcalfe finishing 0.2 seconds behind, despite being the second-fastest in the world over this distance. Owens also took victory in the long jump with an outstanding 8.00 (26-3) on his first and only attempt. His records in the 100 meters and long jump remained stadium records until the 1990s when Palmer Stadium finally met its end and was torn down.
Russian-American George Varoff set a new world record in the pole vault, clearing 4.43 (14-6¼), with Earle Meadows coming up nine centimeters short. During World War II, Varoff’s plane was shot down over China, yet he managed to return home. Cornelius Johnson from Los Angeles cleared 2.03 (6-7¾) in high jump using a flawless style, tying with Alabama’s Dave Albritton. In the jump-off, Johnson surpassed 2.06 (6-9) to secure the win.
Film (British Pathé)
Uusi Suomi, July 6, 1936 (in Finnish)
Turun Sanomat, July 8, 1936 (in Finnish)
Käkisalmen Sanomat, July 9, 1936 (in Finnish)
Owens wins the 100m.