Harry HILLMAN

Harry Hillman’s first major titles came in the 1902 AAU junior and senior 220y hurdles, and the following year he added the AAU senior title in the open quarter He won several more national championships, both U.S. and Canadian, although the fact that the 440y hurdles was not included in the AAU program until 1914, certainly deprived him of many more. Hillman was one of three triple winners in track & field at the 1904 Olympics and his winning time of 53.0 in the 400m hurdles shattered the existing world record. However, he knocked over the eighth hurdle, which, in 1904, invalidated any record claim and, more importantly the barriers were only 2-6 in height instead of the regulation 3 feet. After 1904, Harry Hillman competed at both the 1906 and 1908 Olympics, but with less success. At London in 1908, he concentrated on the 400m hurdles and, after setting a world record of 56.4 in the heats, improved to a career best of 55.3 in the final but still placed second to Charley Bacon. Harry Hillman went to Dartmouth as a coach in 1910, and remained there until his death, save for his World War I duty as a lieutenant in the aviation corps. Hillman was also on the Olympic coaching staff in 1924, 1928, and 1932. Harry Hillman was listed for many years in the Guinness Book of World Records as co-holder of one of the most unusual track records, as he and Lawson Robertson set the record of 11.0 seconds for 100 yds. – in a three-legged race.

Personal Bests: 400 – 47.9y (1908); 110H - 15.4 (1905); 400H – 55.3e (1908).