World Record: 1.97m (unoficial) Michael Sweeney, Unitrd States New York, Unoted States September 21, 1895
Olympic Record: 1.81m Ellery Clark, United States Athens, Greece April 10, 1896 NS
Irving Baxter improved the Olympic record twice. At first he jumped 1.85 metres and finally he also cleared 1.90 metres.
Baxter, winner of the US title in 1898-99, was the co-favourite with
Leahy. The Irishman had jumped 1.96 in 1898, but Baxter had cleared
1.92 at the end of May. With Leahy unable to clear 1.81, Baxter was the
undisputed winner, and he went on to clear 1.90 with his Eastern cut-off
style. Attempts at equalling Sweeney’s world best of 1.97 were truncat-
ed by the crowd being allowed to get too close to the jumping area. The
event was held on a Sunday, meaning that two religious Americans,
Walter Carroll and William Remington, by-passed the event.