1. Overview
Alvah Meyer was an American track and field athlete who specialized in sprint events. Born in New York City in 1888, he was a prominent member of the Irish American Athletic Club and a Jewish athlete. Meyer achieved significant success in his career, including winning a silver medal in the 100 metres at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. He also set world records in the indoor 60 yards in 1914 and the 330 yards in 1915, demonstrating his prowess as a top sprinter of his era.
2. Life
Alvah Meyer's life was marked by his athletic pursuits, which began in his youth and led him to international recognition.
2.1. Birth and Background
Alvah T. Meyer was born on July 18, 1888, in New York City, United States. He was a member of the Irish American Athletic Club, a prominent athletic organization of the time, and was one of its notable Jewish members, alongside other celebrated athletes like Abel Kiviat and Myer Prinstein. Meyer stood at 5.7 ft (1.73 m) and weighed 143 lb (65 kg) during his athletic career.
3. Major Activities and Achievements
Meyer's athletic career was characterized by a series of impressive victories and record-setting performances, culminating in an Olympic medal.
3.1. Early Competitions
Before his Olympic appearance, Alvah Meyer showed considerable promise in sprint events. In 1911, he secured a victory in the AAU indoor 60 yards competition. The following year, in 1912, he continued his success by winning the AAU outdoor 220 yards event, establishing himself as a formidable sprinter in the United States.
3.2. World Records
Meyer's exceptional speed led him to set two world records. In 1914, he established a world indoor record for the 60 yards dash. He followed this achievement in 1915 by setting another world record, this time in the 330 yards event.
3.3. 1912 Stockholm Olympics
Alvah Meyer's most notable athletic achievement came at the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden. Despite underperforming at the U.S. Olympic Trials, he was selected for the American team on the condition that he cover his own travel expenses, which his parents ultimately paid. He competed in both the 100 metres and 200 metres events.
3.3.1. 100 metres
The men's 100 metres event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics took place on July 6 and 7, 1912, with 70 athletes from 22 countries participating. Meyer began his campaign in Heat 9 of the preliminary rounds, where he finished first with a time of 11.6 seconds, securing his advancement to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Meyer again demonstrated his speed, winning his heat with a time of 10.7 seconds, which qualified him for the final race.
The final race was highly anticipated but saw a reduction in competitors as American sprinter Howard Drew was forced to withdraw due to an injury sustained in the semi-finals. As a result, only five athletes competed in the final. Alvah Meyer ran a strong race but was ultimately outpaced by his fellow American, Ralph Craig, who finished just 0.1 seconds ahead of Meyer. Meyer's performance earned him the silver medal, marking a significant achievement in his career.
3.3.2. 200 metres
In addition to the 100 metres, Alvah Meyer also participated in the men's 200 metres event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Despite his success in the 100 metres, he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 200 metres competition.
4. Death
Alvah T. Meyer died on December 19, 1939, at the age of 51. He passed away in Tucson, Arizona, United States.