Thomas Ray

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Thomas Ray (born March 6, 1862 in Ulverston , Lancashire , now District South Lakeland , Cumbria ; † unknown) was a British athlete who was successful in the pole vault in the 1880s . He won seven AAA championships and jumped eight world records , which, however, were only unofficial.

Life

When he set his first world record in 1879, he was only 17 years old. He made an appearance particularly at Grasmere Sports .

  • In 1882 he won the pole vault with a performance of 10 '3' 'and was fourth in the high jump.
  • In 1887 he was the first person in history to jump the three and a half meter limit (= 11 '6' ') and also defeated the American world champion W. Byrd Page with 6'1' ' in the high jump .

The following day he traveled to the USA to take part in a Champions' Contest. The victory height for him is recorded as 11-75.

The high jump technique used by Ray was later refined by the American George Horine and popularized as the " western roller ". In pole vaulting in Great Britain, unlike in the USA, it was allowed to climb the pole as soon as it was in a vertical position, which enabled additional gain in height. Thomas Ray was a baker by profession.

Services

World records

  • 3.42 m on September 19, 1879 in Ulverston
  • 3.43 m on July 16, 1881 in Birmingham
  • 3.45 m on August 12, 1882 in Bradford and on June 16, 1883 in Nottingham
  • 3.46 m on August 18 in Preston
  • 3.48 m on August 20, 1885 in Grasmere and on August 13, 1886 in Whitehaven
  • 3.50 m on August 18, 1887 in Grasmere
  • 3.52 m on August 19, 1887 in Whitehaven (this record was improved by 1 cm in June 1888 by Ernest Stones )
  • 3.55 m on September 22, 1888 in Barrow (this record was improved again a year later by Ernest Stones, who jumped 3.57 m)

AAA title

  • 1881 with 3.43 m
  • 1882 with 3.20 m
  • 1884 with 3.15 m
  • 1885 with 3.05 m
  • 1886 with 3.34 m
  • 1887 with 3.38 m
  • 1888 with 3.36 m (together with Stones)

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