400 metres Hurdles, Men

There were 10 entries in this event, all of whom competed in some event in Paris, but, strangely, only five started. Thus, the heats served the ridiculous purpose of reducing the pack from five to a final field of four. In addition, one qualifier, William Lewis, did not contest the final, probably as it was held on a Sunday.

It was difficult to pick a favorite as the event was not contested by the AAU or AAA until 1914. The French, however, were certain that they had the favorite in Henri Tauzin, who had won five French titles in the event, held the continental record of 58.8, and was supposedly unbeaten.

The hurdles for this event were actually 30 feet long telephone poles laid across the track, except for the final “hurdle,” which was actually a water jump! In the final, Walter Tewksbury went away to an early lead and was never headed. He won easily, posting American records in the heats (probably the initial U.S. record) and the final.