Franklin "Pitch" Johnson, Sr.

1924 U.S. Olympic Trials
Cambridge - June 13-14
110 Meters Hurdles 15.45 Hr
1. George Guthrie (Ohio State) 15.0
2. Dan Kinsey (Illinois)
3. Frank Johnson (Illinois AC)
4. Karl Anderson (Illinois AC)
5. Charles Moore (Penn State)
6. Leighton Dye (USC)

semifinals: (First 2 qualify), 14.15 Hr
1/ 1. Anderson 15.0, 2. Moore, 3. George Krogness (SFOC)
2/ 2. Johnson 14.8, 2. Guthrie 14.9e, 3. Charles Daggs (LAAC), 4. John Towler (Minnesota)
3/ 1. Kinsey 15.2, 2. Dye, 3. H.L. Moore (NC), Ray Wolf (Penn) -Dnf

Heats: (First 2 qualify)
1/ 1. Robert Maxwell (Pomona) 15.4, 2. Krogness
2/ 1. Kinsey 15.4, 2. Guthrie
3/ 1. Johnson 15.2, 2. H.L. Moore...dnf. K Anderson
4/ 1. C. Moore, 2. John Towler (Minnesota)
5/ 1. Wolf 15.5, 2. Daggs
6/ 1. Dye 15.4, 2. Hugo Leistner (Stanford)

Karl Anderson, the reigning AAU champion, was favored to win heat 3, but fell while leading by 2 yards. Referee Prout again had to make a ruling, and advanced Anderson to the semifinals. The winner of that heat, Johnson won the second semi in 14.8, equal to the world record (though far inferior to Earl Thompson's 120y best of 14.4. However, the mark was never put forward for ratification due to the windy conditions.

Guthrie reversed the semifinal order in beating Johnson, with Kinsey interposed in second place; the time was good in view of the damp cold weather being at its worst for the final. Anderson the tallest (6'1 1/2) contender made the team, edging out Charles Moore for the vital 4th place. Ironically, Anderson fell again later in the season, this time in the final at Colobes Stadium, and was placed 5th of 6 when third-placed Guthrie was disqualified for knocking over three hurdles. Kinsey won the Olympic title in 15.0.

Source: THE HISTORY OF THE U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS - TRACK & FIELD 1908-2000, by Richard Hymans, ATFS.

1924 Paris C: 27, N: 15, D: 7.9. WR (120 yards) 14.4 (Earl Thompson)
1. Daniel Kinsey USA 15.0
2. Sydney Atkinson SAF 15.0
3. Sten Petterson SWE 15.4
4. Carl-Axel Christiernsson SWE 15.5
5. Karl Anderson USA 15.8
DISQ: George Guthrie (USA)

Atkinson was in the lead as he and Kinsey rose to clear the last hurdle. However, the South African clipped the barrier with his rear foot and stumbled. He recovered well, but lost by inches. Guthrie finished third, but was disqualified for knocking over three hurdles.

Source: The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics Sydney 2000 Edition, David Wallechinsky.