½ mile, Men

The half-mile competition was the first Olympic event held in 1904. Marcus Hurley won it in convincing style with the big surprise being Teddy Billington defeating Burton Downing for second. Four heats were contested, won by Hurley, Aimé Fritz, Downing and Billington. The semi-finals went to Hurley and Billington. In the final, Billington was on the pole with Hurley next to him, Downing in third position, and George Wiley on the outer lane. Wiley set the pace for the first quarter of a mile at which time all three cyclists passed him easily. Hurley stayed on the pole in the stretch and won by a length and a half over Billington who defeated Downing by almost two lengths.