John Eller

John Jacob ("Jack" or J.J.) Eller, Jr. (October 15, 1883 – January 20, 1967) was an American track and field athlete, a member of the Irish American Athletic Club and a member of the New York City Police Department from 1905 to 1942. Eller was a five-time Amateur Athletic Union champion in the 220 yard low hurdles between 1907 and 1912. He competed as a member of the U.S. Olympic team in the 1912 Summer Olympics. (John's brother Robert Eller was also an athlete, who competed for Fordham University and the Irish American Athletic Club.

John Eller
John Eller, Abel Kiviat and John J. Reynolds in 1912
Personal information
BornOctober 15, 1883
New Jersey, United States
DiedJanuary 20, 1967 (aged 83)
Cutchogue, New York, United States
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight66 kg (146 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
ClubI-AAC, Queens

In 1910, Eller was considered 'King of the Hurdlers.' "He held the world's record for the 220 yard, 2 foot 6 inch hurdle made at Travers Island in 1908, the time being 24 4/6 seconds and also the 220 yard 3ft. 6in. hurdles made at Celtic Prk in October, 1908 in 27 and 3/5 seconds." Also in 1908, Eller won the 150 yard, 200 yard and 220 yard hurdle indoor championships, securing three first prizes all in one night. In 1909, Eller won both the 120 yard high hurdle and the 220 yard low hurdles, coming close to securing a record in the latter."[1]

In 1912 he was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 110 metre hurdles competition. He also participated in the pentathlon event but quit after three disciplines, with the victory going to Jim Thorpe.[2]

John Jacob Eller Jr. defeating fellow Irish American Athletic Club member I.K. Lovell and A. McGowan of the New York Athletic Club (not shown) in the 120 yard hurdle race, held September 16, 1911, at Celtic Park in Queens, NY.[3]

Notes
  1. 1910 Mecca Cigarettes Champion Athlete and Prize Fighter Series trading card. wingedfist.com
  2. John Eller Archived 2011-05-19 at the Wayback Machine. Sports-reference profile
  3. New York Times, September 17, 1911. "Irish-Americans Champion Athletes: Celtic Park Organization takes Senior A.A.U. Meet with 93 Points Against N.Y.A.C.'s 51."

References
  • Greenberg, Stan (1987). Olympic Games: The Records. London: Guinness Books. ISBN 0-85112-896-3.
  • Kieran, John (1977). The Story of the Olympic Games; 776 B.C. to 1976. Philadelphia and New York: J.B. Lippincott Company. ISBN 0-397-01168-7.
  • Police Athletes of the Past: John Eller – Spring 3100
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