history of mansfield mehock relays
harry e. mehock (1902-1970) started the mansfield relays in 1927. he was the meet's first director. three teams participated -- mansfield senior high school, ashland, and galion. the relays grew under harry's direction until 1942 when it was canceled for 4 years during world war ii because of gas and personnel shortages. the relays were reestablished in 1947 and have grown to its present magnitude. with the beginning of the 80s it has drawn well over 2,200 athletes representing 211 high schools, 6 states (oh, mi, pa, in, wva, ky) and canada. from these meager beginnings the relays have become the largest interscholastic high school track and field event in north america and perhaps the world. today, the event is considered the midwest's premiere early season "proving ground" for scholastic track stars
mansfield mehock relay winners who became oiympic champions
1936 - jesse owens, cleveland east tech, 1932-33
1948/52 - harrison dilard, cleveland east tech, 1941
1956/60 - glenn davis, barberton, 1954
1964 - otis drayton, cleveland cathedral latin, 1957-58
1964 - hayes jones, pontiac, mich., 1956
1964 - warren cawley, farmington, mich., 1959
1968 - willie davenport, warren howland, 1962.
more history
compiled by bill rogers
in 1976, almost all-english distances were abolished for track record purposes. the only exception was the mile run because of its tradition and popularity.
since its inception in 1927, the mansfield mehock relays has seen seven individual champions and one other participant set track/field records recognized by the international amateur athletic federation.
these record holders:
jack keller, columbus east, ohio, who won the 120-yard high hurdles and the 220-yard low hurdles at the relays in 1929, equaled the world mark of 14.4 for the 110-meter high hurdle event, july 16, 1932.
jesse owens, cleveland east tech, ohio, winner of the broad jump in 1932 and the 100-yard dash, 220-yard dash, and broad jump in 1933, set the broad jump record of 26-8 1/4, may 25, 1935, a mark that held up for 25 years. on june 20, 1936, owens ran the 100-meter dash in 10.2 for another world standard.
dave albritton, cleveland east tech, ohio, won the 120-yard high hurdles in 1933. albritton tied the world mark of 6-9 3/4 in the high jump, another of his specialties, july 12, 1936.
glenn "jeep" davis, barberton, ohio, winner of the 180-yard low hurdles and the broad jump in 1954, set his first world record in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (49.5), june 29, 1956. later, august 6, 1958, he lowered this mark to 49.2.
otis drayton, cleveland cathedral latin, ohio, champion at 100 yards in 1957 and 220 yards in 1957 and 1958, raced to a world mark of 20.5 at 200 meters, june 23, 1962.
warren "rex" cawley, farmington, michigan, winner in both the 120-yard high and 180-yard low hurdle events in 1959, posted his world mark of 49.1 in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, september 13, 1964.
willie davenport, warren holland, ohio, winner of the 120-yard high hurdles in 1962, sped to a world record of 13.2 in the 110-meter high sticks, july 4, 1969.
david wottle, canton lincoln, ohio, is the only non-winner to set a world mark. a third-place finisher in the 1968 mile, wottle gained a niche in history by clocking 1:44.3 in the 800 meter run, july 1, 1972. as a footnote, it should be pointed out that jessie owens claimed numerous world records at english distances and in events not officially recognized by the iaaf. in one meet alone, at ann arbor, mi, may 25, 1935, owens set six world marks: 100 yard dash, 220 yard and 200 meter dashes, 220 yard and 200 meter low hurdles and the long jump.
owens' world standard of 20.7 for the 200-meter dash, set at the 1936 olympics, was erased from the books because it was run on a course that did not meet the requirement of a "curved track as part of a 400-meter cirucuit."
at one time, jeep davis not only held the record for
the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, the ohio state university speedster
also fashioned a world-best effort of 45.7 for the 440-yard dash, an amazing
double.