Step By Step In Both Races

(100 Meters & 200 Meters - 1928 Western Regional Olympic Trials - June 16, 1928 )

"Century"

(100 Metres)

The starting marks for the century had been moved outside of the tunnel.  The stands had a good view of the entire race.  The sprinters warmed up by prancing up and down the track.

Photo #1

(Charley) Paddock and (Frank) Lombardi received the inside.  Russ Slocum next. Then (Frank) Wykoff with Sandy Wehner next to him and Paddock on his right.  Lombardi is next to Paddock flanked by Weldon Draper with Nate George (from) Whittier (college) -- (watch him, he's got the goods), next to the outside and Hind, in the ninth lane.  Hind placed fourth in the trials and was allowed to run when (Charles) Borah withdrew.

Somebody jumped prematurely.  They jogged out of their holes.

Get Perfect Start

Bob Weaver called them "to their marks" again.  Paddock crouched at "set" -- a new wrinkle of his so he won't get caught with a quick start.

"Bang!"

A Perfect start -- they left as one wave.

Wykoff pulls out in front at the ten-yard mark with Lombardi, Paddock and Slocum bunched right behind him.

Wykoff seems to stretch the distance out.  At the twenty-yard mark he is a yard in front.  George of Whittier, running over near the outside seems closest to him.

Paddock, Lombardi, and Slocum are bunched.

At the thirty-yard marker Wykoff has picked up some more.

Nearly two yards separates Wykoff from George, Lombardi, and Paddock, who are bunched as they cross the fifty-yard marker.

Try To Catch Him

At the seventy-five-yard mark Paddock and Lombardi are both pulling Wykoff is "rolling" easily away out in front.  The stands have risen and are cheering the blonde kid with the big "G" on his chest.

"Can he hold it?" says somebody.

He shows that he can.  He stretches out the distance at the 100-yard mark.  Nine more yards.  George has come up and is leading Paddock.

The Glendale Greyhound hits the tape.  Paddock and George cross the line together seven feet behind Wykoff.  Lombardi is two feet behind Paddock.

The judges give second to Paddock.  George third.

Time 10 3-5 seconds.  Equals Abraham's' Olympic Time.

______________

"200 Metres"

The stands buzzed as the boys went into the tunnel to start the 200 meter race.  There was a question as to whether Wykoff would attempt to repeat his victory.  The press box was also wondering whether Paddock would try to come back.  Both went into the tunnel with the other sprinters.

After a short wait the gun cracked.  Bang!  Bang!  They were called back.  Somebody had made a false start.  Later we were told it was Lombardi.

Wykoff In Lead

Bang!  This time they kept coming.  Out of the tunnel with Wykoff two yards in front of the pack again.

At the 50-yard line Lombardi and George were even for second, Wykoff rolling into an easy stride and holding his advantage.

At the 75-yard mark Paddock was running fourth, three yards behind the Glendale Greyhound.  Lombardi and George were in second place.  Paddock began to pull. Wykoff was easily striding away from the field.  The stands were in an uproar.

At the 100-yard mark Wykoff was easily twelve or fourteen feet in front of Paddock, who had pulled abreast of Lombardi.  The stands were yelling for Wykoff to hold his lead.  Paddock and Lombardi were "pulling" with all the strength they had.  Both began to make up some of the distance on Wykoff.

Photo #2

Fight For Second

At the 160-yard mark they had closed up the distance to two yards.  They were fighting for second place.  At this point Wykoff slipped into high gear and skidded along holding his margin.

At the 200-yard mark he was still two yards ahead and Paddock and Lombardi were battling for seconds.

Wow!  The crowd let out a might yell as Wykoff hit the tape for the second time in the afternoon.  Paddock and Lombardi finished together with Nat George a foot behind.

The judges gave second to Paddock, third to Lombardi.

Time: 20 4-5 seconds.  Tied Paddock's own world's record.