Declaring that “swimmers make good trackmen, and trackmen make good swimmers”, Outrigger Canoe Club Captain George “Dad” Center formed a track and field team at the OCC and entered his Club in four track and field meets during the 1918 season. W. H. Britton was the captain of the team. The OCC team entered four meets.
The OCC team didn’t place anyone in the top three finishers in its first meet–the Interscholastic Meet held at Alexander Field at Punahou School on March 24–but did manage to score 28 1/2 points behind the Waikiki Athletic Club and Kamehameha School.
A week later in an AAU Track & Field meet on March 30, also at Alexander Field, the 25th Infantry from Schofield Barracks won the title, followed by Waikiki Athletic Club and the Outrigger.
Outrigger’s John M. Watt, who later went on to set a world record in the 60-yard hurdles while attending Cornell University, and be selected to the 1920 U.S. Olympic team, won the 120-yard high hurdles in :15.8 and the 220-yard low hurdles in :36.2.
Other OCC winners in the meet were Howard H. Smith, 220-yard dash, :23.0; and George M. Lindley, pole vault, 10′ 10 1/4″ and high jump, 5′ 8 1/4″.
On June 15, the AAU Territorial Fair Track and Field Meet was held at Kapiolani Park. The 25th Infantry from Schofield Barracks again dominated the meet with 109 points, with Outrigger second with 26 points. John Watt set meet records, in the 220-yard dash (:22.2), and in the 220-yard low hurdles (:25.8), while George N. Lindley set a record in the running high jump of 5′ 10 1/4″.
Other Outrigger entries were:
60-yard Dash: Fuyuki Okumura, Howard H. Smith, John M. Watt.
100-yard Dash: John M. Watt.
220-yard Dash: Joe Stickney, Howard H. Smith.
220-yard Relay: J. Rollins, Joe Stickney, Tom Singlehurst, G. Douglas Crozier.
440-yard Run: Joe Stickney, Tom Singlehurst, Howard H. Smith, John M. Watt.
Half-mile Run: Joe Stickney, W. H. Britton, Howard H. Smith, John M. Watt, George N. Lindley, George Bromley, T. Peterson.
1 mile Run: Gilbert M. Canario.
5 mile Run: Gilbert M. Canario.
120 High Hurdles: J. Rollins, John Watt.
220 Low Hurdles: J. Rollins, Howard H. Smith, R. M. Sanderson, John M. Watt.
Pole Vault: Harold Harvey, George N. Lindley, Fred Peterson.
Running High Jump: George N. Lindley.
Running Broad Jump: J. Rollins, W. H. Britton, John M. Watt, George N. Lindley.
16# Shot Put: Hans Fassoth, George N. Lindley, John M. Watt, Henry Pogue.
16# Hammer: John McCandless, Pat O’Sullivan.
Discus: John McCandless, John Fassoth, Pat O’Sullivan, T. Peterson.
Throwing Javelin: John Fassoth, W. H. Britton, John J. Fassoth, T. Peterson.
In a final meet for the year, Howard H. “Buzz” Smith represented the Outrigger in the Hilo Track and Field Meet on July 4th, winning the 100-yard dash, 220-yard dash and the 440-yard run.
News Clips
1918_02_25_HA_Outrigger_Club_Has_Men_Training_for_Coming_Track_Meet
1918_03_05_HSB_AAU_Meeting_to_Decide_for_Coming_Events
1918_03_06_HA_Eighteen_Events_on_AAU_Track
1918_03_06_HSB_AAU_Track_Meet_Will_be_Held_March_30
1918_03_14_HSB_Many_Athletes_Will_Enter_Big_Meet_March_30
1918_03_23_HSB_AAU_Meet_to_Be_Best_Since_Track_Started
1918_03_25_HSB_Punahou_Track_Stars_Win_Interschool_Meet
1918_03_27_HSB_Honolulu_Club_Picked_by_Fan_to_Win_Events
1918_03_28_25th_Infantry_to_Send_Great_Team_Saturday
1918_03_29_HA_231_Athletes_Entered_for_Tomorrows_Big_Meet
1918_03_29_HA_Outrigger_Likely_to_Withdraw_From_AAU_Track_Meet
1918_03_29_HSB_Track_Meet_Tomorrow_Turns_Out_231_Cinder_Path_Athletes
1918_03_30_HA_Annual_AAU_Meet_This_Afternoon_Assures_Greatest_Competition_Known
1918_03_30_HSB_Three_Teams_to_Battle_in_Meet_This_Afternoon
1918_03_31_HA_25th_First_at_AAU_Meet
1918_04_01_HSB_25th_Infantry_Wins_AAU_Meet
1918_04_01_HSB_Snaps_at_the_AAU_Track_Meet
1918_04_16_HSB_Pan_Pacific_Club_Offers_Trophy_to_Winner_of_Event
1918_05_02_HSB_Track_Meet_at_Big_Fair_Will_Be_Real_Event
1918_06_04_HA_Entries_for_Track_and_Field_Meet_to_Close_Tomorrow
1918_06_04_HSB_Big_Fair_Meet_to_Bring_Out_Several_Stars
1918_06_08_HSB_Record_List_of_Athletes_Enter_For_Big_AAU_Meet_on_Saturday
1918_06_11_HSB_Stage_All_Set_for_Big_Cinder_Meet_Next_Saturday_Afternoon
1918_06_14_HA_Big_Fair_Card_is_Track_Field_Meet
1918_06_14_HSB_Classic_Promises_Enthuse_Spectators
1918_06_15_HA_AAU_Fair_Track_and_Field
1918_06_16_HA_Thousands_Witness_Greatest_Foot_Races_Ever_Held_in_Islands
1918_06_17_HSB_Speedy_Meet_Goes_to_Men_of_25th__Nine_Records_Shattered