World Record: 12.0s Myrtle Cook, Canada Halifax, Canada 2 July 1928
The favourites were Cook and Robinson, who had both run 12.0 earlier
in the season; in Robinson’s case it was the first ever outdoor race the
16 year-old had run! Cook’s teammates Rosenfeld and Smith were
fastest in the heats with 12.6, and Rosenfeld was again quickest in the
next round with 12.4. The other semi-finals were taken by Robinson
and Schmidt in 12.6.
In the final, Cook false started twice, then burst into tears by the side
of the track. Schmidt was ejected shortly after for the same offence.
Unlike Cook, Schmidt’s reaction was one of anger rather than distress,
and she shook her fist at the starter. Eventually the remaining four were
off, with Steinberg fastest away, but quickly overtaken by Smith and
Rosenfeld who held a slim lead to halfway, where Robinson caught the
Canadians. The teenager edged Rosenfeld by about 30cm at the finish,
with Smith half a metre behind.
United States
Canada
Germany
Canada
France
Germany
South Africa
Australia
Japan
Sweden
New Zealand
Italy
Netherlands
Latvia
Belgium
