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100 Meter Race

OLYMPICS - BERLIN, GERMANY

Monday, August 3, 1936

Photo above from a book written in German - "Olympia 1936" -- Band 2

publisher CIGARETTEN-BILDERDIENST ALTONA-BAHRENFELD

100 Metre Race

Monday, August 3, 1936

Edited reprint of a newspaper article (newspaper?)

FOR SAKE OF SPORT

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By:  GEORGE T. DAVIS

They used to say that Christy Mathewson pitched with his head more than with his arm!

And now they can add that Frank Wykoff runs with his heart as much as his feet!

For it was the courageous heart of the Glendale veteran that carried his tired feet, which have blazed chapters on the cinder paths of the world for the last eight years, to a fourth place in yesterday's 100-meter Olympic Games final.

Wykoff fought an uphill battle this year which he climaxed by becoming the second fastest white sprinter alive -- second only to Martin Osendarp of Holland, who trailed Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe, across the finish line.

He started his comeback trail at Long Beach in early March and, without ample time to train properly, finished in the "ruckus" by trailing a group of average sprinters.  Some "experts," who did not take Wykoff's fighting heart into consideration, immediately placed him in the category with other former champions, adding the age-old epitaph, "They never come back."

WYKOFF SATISFIED

It was my privilege to talk with Wykoff in the dressing room after that race, and it is well to recall what he said at that time:

"I satisfied myself, particularly in the trial (which he won), that I still have speed in my legs, and I'll continue to run this season.  I'm planning an active campaign and I think I'll do better later in the year.  In the finals I felt dead on my feet at the start, and during the race I was somewhat confused about what to do.  Frankly I think I should have lengthened my stride in the closing yards, and this is what I'll do in the future."

Wykoff made good his every prediction of that day and, to me, his brilliant comeback was as much a tribute to his courage and determination as his world's record of 9.4 seconds in the 100 yards -- established in 1930 -- was to his flying feet.

MORE DETERMINED

Wykoff went back to Carpinteria after that race, more determined than ever.  He worked diligently after long hours in the classroom, and, two months later startled the track world by winning the 100 meters at Whittier in 10.5 seconds, listing Foy Draper among his victims.

He trailed Draper and George Boone at Compton three nights later, and then came back to win the regional Olympic trials at the Coliseum with an eye-lash victory over Mack Robinson of Pasadena, who is expected to give Owens his toughest battle in the 200 meters final tomorrow.

In the final trials at New York, he was the victim of an error by the officials and was forced to run an extra heat.  But the Glendale veteran laughed at this handicap and came back to give Owens and Metcalfe a battle in the final.

Yes, he HAD come back!

CREDIT TO SPORTS

Frank Wykoff, who first won fame eight years ago when -- as Glendale schoolboy -- he carried the huge "G" to four straight victories in world's record time on a single afternoon, against the greatest sprinters in America, now can hang up his spikes with complete satisfaction.

He has personified the value of clean living, is a credit to athletics and an inspiration to the youth of the country.

He retires -- and he has expressed his desire to do so -- from competitive sports with an unimpeachable record.  His spiked shoes have left indelible prints upon the cinder-path that neither time nor future heroes can erase.

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Note - After the above publication, Frank Wykoff was chosen to anchor the 400 Meter Relay team to Golden victory:

USA 400 Meter Relay Team