Sammy Mellor
Encyclopedia
Samuel Alexander "Sammy" Mellor, Jr. (March 14, 1880 - November 5, 1948) was an American long-distance runner who won the 1902 Boston Marathon
and competed in the marathon at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri
.
. He attended School Two and trained in Dunwoodie
at Buckwheat Track. His first race was a 6-mile event on January 22, 1898 in Mount Vernon, New York
which he won.
On July 4, 1902, Mellor won the 25-mile marathon at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York
. His 3:16:39.4 performance in temperatures reaching 104°F earned him an unofficial national championship
and his first national victory.
In the 1901 Boston Marathon, Mellor finished third behind Canadians John Caffery
and William "Bill" Davis. One year later, he was victorious in the event's sixth edition with a time of 2:43:15.4 in race conditions that featured strong winds and blowing dust. In 1903, Mellor would finish nearly six minutes behind John Lorden
, the 1902 runner-up, after losing the lead and walking down Heartbreak Hill. During the 1904 Boston Marathon, he would lose the lead at mile 20 and go on to finish in sixth place. Mellor dropped out of the race at Chestnut Hill
in 1905 after setting a record pace early on.
Mellor was among the leaders in 1906 prior to being overtaken by David Kneeland
and falling back. His 8th place finish in 1908 earned him a spot on the United States Olympic Marathon Team. He finish 34th in the 1910 race. Ten years after he won the event, Mellor was slated to competed in the 1912 Boston Marathon, which served as the United States Olympic Trials for the 1912 Summer Olympics
in Stockholm, Sweden.
As a member of the 1904 United States Olympic Team
, he was a favorite to win the marathon. According to The Olympic Marathon by David Martin and Roger Gynn, Mellor was in third at the 3-mile mark, in second at the 6-mile mark, and leading just past the halfway point. Shortly thereafter, he developed a stich
or severe cramps and was overtaken by the eventual gold medalist, American Thomas Hicks. At about 14.5 miles or 2 hours and 4 minutes into the race, Mellor retired from the race.
Mellor also earned a spot on the 1908 team, but did not compete in the Olympics that year.
, Mellor was paced to a course record by a horse and buggy
. He also won a 10-mile race by six inches on Young’s Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey
in 1905; he claimed this was his most difficulty victory. By the spring of 1909, Mellor held the American record
in the twenty-mile. Among his other victories are the Newark Marathon (1907), the Bronx Marathon (1909), the Mercury Athletic Club 25-mile race (1909), and the Empire City Marathon (1909). In 1909, Mellor won an "amateur marathon" in Troy, New York
on April 28, 1909, and finished third at the Bronx Amateur Marathon on May 8th.
Mellor helped establish the Yonkers Marathon
with Edward Wetmore Kinsley in 1907, and finished second in the event's first two runnings. Mellor also founded the 3.5-mile Yonkers Schoolboys Race with help from Kinsley in 1908. At various times throughout his running career, Mellor represented the Mohawk Athletic Club, the National Athletic Club, the Hollywood Inn Athletic Association (also referred to as the Hollywood Inn Athletic Club), the Yonkers Harriers, and the Mercury Club
. Having competed in 29 marathons, Mellor retired from racing in 1909.
Eva Florence Mellor was Sammy Mellor's widow. He was unrelated to Charles "Chuck" Mellor, the winner of the 1925 Boston Marathon and an Olympian in 1920 and 1924.
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
and competed in the marathon at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Early life
Mellor was born in Yonkers, New YorkYonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. He attended School Two and trained in Dunwoodie
Dunwoodie, Yonkers, New York
Dunwoodie is a neighborhood in Yonkers, New York, noted for being the home of St. Joseph's Seminary on Valentine Hill. Dunwoodie is located north of the Seminary, while Dunwoodie Heights includes the seminary and what is south of it...
at Buckwheat Track. His first race was a 6-mile event on January 22, 1898 in Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
which he won.
On July 4, 1902, Mellor won the 25-mile marathon at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. His 3:16:39.4 performance in temperatures reaching 104°F earned him an unofficial national championship
National championship
A national championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest in a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, individual in a particular nation and in a particular field...
and his first national victory.
Boston Marathon
Mellor has been described as "one of the early stars" of the Boston Marathon. He finished in the top 10 six out of eight years between 1901 and 1909.In the 1901 Boston Marathon, Mellor finished third behind Canadians John Caffery
Jack Caffery
John Peter Caffery was a Canadian track and field athlete who competed in the marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics where he finished in 11th place. Caffrey was also a two-time champion of the Boston Marathon...
and William "Bill" Davis. One year later, he was victorious in the event's sixth edition with a time of 2:43:15.4 in race conditions that featured strong winds and blowing dust. In 1903, Mellor would finish nearly six minutes behind John Lorden
John Lorden
John C. Lorden was an American long-distance runner who won the 1903 Boston Marathon and competed in the marathon at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri....
, the 1902 runner-up, after losing the lead and walking down Heartbreak Hill. During the 1904 Boston Marathon, he would lose the lead at mile 20 and go on to finish in sixth place. Mellor dropped out of the race at Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Chestnut Hill is a wealthy New England village located six miles west of downtown Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Like all Massachusetts villages, Chestnut Hill is not an incorporated municipal entity, but unlike most of them, it encompasses parts of three separate municipalities, each of...
in 1905 after setting a record pace early on.
Mellor was among the leaders in 1906 prior to being overtaken by David Kneeland
David Kneeland
David Joseph Kneeland was an American track and field athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In 1904 he was sixth in marathon competition.He was born in San Francisco, California.-External links:*...
and falling back. His 8th place finish in 1908 earned him a spot on the United States Olympic Marathon Team. He finish 34th in the 1910 race. Ten years after he won the event, Mellor was slated to competed in the 1912 Boston Marathon, which served as the United States Olympic Trials for the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
in Stockholm, Sweden.
Olympian
Mellor was a two-time member of the United States Olympic Marathon Team.As a member of the 1904 United States Olympic Team
United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics
The United States hosted the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. These Games were sparsely attended by athletes from outside the USA, and consequently, American athletes won 241 of 283 total medals awarded...
, he was a favorite to win the marathon. According to The Olympic Marathon by David Martin and Roger Gynn, Mellor was in third at the 3-mile mark, in second at the 6-mile mark, and leading just past the halfway point. Shortly thereafter, he developed a stich
Side stitch
A side stitch is an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage that occurs while exercising. It is also referred to as exercise related transient abdominal pain...
or severe cramps and was overtaken by the eventual gold medalist, American Thomas Hicks. At about 14.5 miles or 2 hours and 4 minutes into the race, Mellor retired from the race.
Mellor also earned a spot on the 1908 team, but did not compete in the Olympics that year.
Other accomplishments
In 1904 at the Canadian Marathon of Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Mellor was paced to a course record by a horse and buggy
Horse and buggy
A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses...
. He also won a 10-mile race by six inches on Young’s Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
in 1905; he claimed this was his most difficulty victory. By the spring of 1909, Mellor held the American record
United States records in track and field
The following are the national records in track & field in the United States maintained by USA Track & Field .Key:-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified by IAAF...
in the twenty-mile. Among his other victories are the Newark Marathon (1907), the Bronx Marathon (1909), the Mercury Athletic Club 25-mile race (1909), and the Empire City Marathon (1909). In 1909, Mellor won an "amateur marathon" in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
on April 28, 1909, and finished third at the Bronx Amateur Marathon on May 8th.
Mellor helped establish the Yonkers Marathon
Yonkers Marathon
The Yonkers Marathon, held in Yonkers, New York, is the second oldest marathon in the United States, after the Boston Marathon. The course of the Yonkers Marathon is known as being tough and hilly....
with Edward Wetmore Kinsley in 1907, and finished second in the event's first two runnings. Mellor also founded the 3.5-mile Yonkers Schoolboys Race with help from Kinsley in 1908. At various times throughout his running career, Mellor represented the Mohawk Athletic Club, the National Athletic Club, the Hollywood Inn Athletic Association (also referred to as the Hollywood Inn Athletic Club), the Yonkers Harriers, and the Mercury Club
Mercury club
Harry Eckler of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame was one of the owners of the Mercury Night club along with Joe Krol of the Football Hall of Fame and Sam Luftspring of the Boxing Hall of Fame. It was the most popular night club of the 1950s...
. Having competed in 29 marathons, Mellor retired from racing in 1909.
Eva Florence Mellor was Sammy Mellor's widow. He was unrelated to Charles "Chuck" Mellor, the winner of the 1925 Boston Marathon and an Olympian in 1920 and 1924.