BOOK REVIEW
A World History of Sprint Racing 1850-2005 by Roberto L Quercetani & Gustavo Pallicca; published by SEP Editrice, Milan; 367 pages (19.5 x 24cm).
Roberto Quercetani may be 84 but happily for all of us he is still adding to his massive literary contribution to the history and documentation of our sport. As he states in his introduction: “My peregrination along the history of running events began in 1973 when Cordner Nelson and I edited ‘Runners and Races: 1500m/mile’. For my part it continued with works on the 800m, the long distances (5000/10,000m) and lately the one-lap event (400m & 4x400m). The present book, devoted to the sprints (100/200m & 4x100m), practically completes the series as far as flat events on the track are concerned.”
This splendid and weighty book, well illustrated by nearly 70 photos, follows the format of the series being divided into eras: 1850-1900, 1901-20, 1921-40, 1941-60, 1961-80, 1981-2000 and a 2001-05 postscript for the men; 1895-1940, 1941-70, 1971-2000 and 2001-05 for the women. In each section RLQ traces the development of the events in question, recalling the most memorable races, times and personalities, while fellow ATFS member Gustavo Pallicca (a prominent international starter) contributes articles on technical aspects of sprinting, including manual and electric timing, the crouch start, starting blocks, track surfaces, lane draws and false starts.
Perhaps the first of the famed sprinters was the American professional George Seward, credited with 9 1/4 (9.25) for 100 yards at Hammersmith (London) in 1844. However, considering the first authentic 9.3 was by Mel Patton over a century later, that mark has always been treated with some suspicion, and it appears that not only was the race on a downhill stretch of road but was from a flying start of either 10 or 30 yards. A stronger claimant to the title of the 19th century’s top sprinter was Britain’s Harry Hutchens, a pro timed at 9 3/4 (9.75) for 100y in 1887.
In his usual meticulous fashion, the author recounts the exploits of a multitude of notable speedsters and fleshes out the statistics with lots of personal detail and insight. Among the asides we learn that Mack Robinson, second to Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympic 200m, was the elder brother of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who was himself an outstanding athlete, topping the world long jump list in 1938 with 7.78 at age 19; Norman Pritchard, runner-up at 200m in the 1900 Olympics, became a successful actor in silent films in Hollywood; 1966 European 200m champion Roger Bambuck later served as Minister of Sports & Recreation in the French Government; and O.J.Simpson, one of the greatest ever running backs in American football among other claims to fame, was a 9.4 100y man.
Among the statistical curiosities mentioned are that the Australian pro Jack Donaldson ran 9 3/8 (faster than 9.4) for 100y at high altitude Johannesburg in 1910 when the fastest by an amateur stood at 9.6; Charles Paddock was timed at 10.2 for 110y (100.58m) in 1921, a mark not matched officially for the shorter 100m until Owens in 1936; and in 1932 Ralph Metcalfe ran a windy 19.8 for 220y on a straight track and no one else would break 20 sec under any conditions until 1959.
The first documented 100y race for women was in 1890 in New York, but it wasn’t until 1928 that the women’s 100mwas included in the Olympics, with the 200m being added to the programme 20 years later.
A problem for the author was deciding how to treat the exploits of 1932 Olympic 100m champion and prolific world record breaker Stanislawa (actually her name at birth was Stefania) Walasiewicz. RLQ writes: “Her masculine appearance gave rise to perplexity in some quarters. As destiny would have it, suspicions were confirmed in 1980, when she was shot dead while accidentally involved in a robbery in Cleveland. An autopsy revealed a situation certainly not compatible with participation in women’s sports.” Another area of concern was the well documented use of anabolic steroids in the GDR which enabled that state to dominate women’s athletics for many years.
The 150-page statistics section will add to the delight of all who love that aspect of the sport. For men there are world year lists at 100y, 100m, 200m and 220y as appropriate from 1860 (relay from 1897) to 2005 with all-time lists as at the end of 1900 and every 20 years thereafter. For the women there are brief all-time lists at the end of 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980, plus year lists from 1981 Mel Watman
How To Order “World History of Sprint Racing”
By post from Athletics International, 13 Garden Court, Marsh Lane, Stanmore HA7 4TE, UK, enclosing £30 or 45 euros (inc. postage & packing) in Europe, or £35 or US$65 for the rest of the world. Orders will be sent to the Italian publishers, who will despatch the books by airmail. Payment in cash or (sterling only) by cheque drawn on a British bank and payable to Athletics International Ltd. You can also pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) – Include your postal address and details (type of card, card number, name as on card, expiry date). These transactions are handled on our behalf by Umbra Athletics Ltd; amount (plus a £3 charge) to be deducted from your account will be in pounds.
Or e-mail mel@gardencourt.fsnet.co.uk, including postal address and credit card details as above.