Henry Dreyer

Dreyer won his first national title in 1934, winning the 35 lb weight throw at that year's AAU indoor championships with a throw of 53 ft 8 in (16.35 m).{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAIndoorTF/men/WT.aspx |title=USA Indoor Track & Field Champions - Men's 35-lb. Weight Throw |publisher=USA Track & Field |access-date=April 22, 2014 |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104121132/http://usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAIndoorTF/men/WT.aspx |url-status=dead }} Representing Rhode Island State College, he also won the 1934 indoor IC4A weight throw title, throwing 55 ft {{frac|2|1|4}} in (16.82 m),{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19340306&id=oGUhAAAAIBAJ&pg=6416,1039897 |title=Gene Venzke Again Loses to Bonthron |date=March 6, 1934 |access-date=April 22, 2014 |newspaper=Reading Eagle}} a world record.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W2tzqqg7rj8C&pg=PA46 |title=University of Rhode Island |author1=Wheaton, James Lucas |author2=Vangermeersch, Richard G. |author-link2=Richard Vangermeersch|page=46 |isbn=978-0-738-50214-4|date=1999-09-01 }} At that summer's NCAA championships he won the hammer throw, throwing 169 ft {{frac|8|3|8}} in (51.73 m) and defeating 1932 Olympic bronze medalist Pete Zaremba;{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19340623&id=O9VXAAAAIBAJ&pg=5718,5030492 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |date=June 23, 1934 |access-date=April 22, 2014 |title=Torrance Gets Shotput Record}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/tfn_pdfs/ncaa_history_pdfs/ncaamht.pdf |author=Hill, E. Garry |title=A History Of The NCAA Championships, 1921–2013 |magazine=Track & Field News |access-date=April 22, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} only Fred Tootell, the 1924 Olympic champion and Dreyer's coach,{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/rhode-island/newport/newport-mercury-and-weekly-news/1935/06-28/page-5 |newspaper=The Newport Daily News |title=Dreyer and Johnson Star in A.A.U. Meet |date=June 28, 1935 |access-date=April 22, 2014}} had ever thrown farther at the NCAA meet.

In 1935 Dreyer broke his own world record in the 35-pound indoor weight throw with 57 ft 9 in (17.60 m){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19350319&id=mkUsAAAAIBAJ&pg=4252,1451021 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |date=March 19, 1935 |author=Barker, Herbert W. |title=Six Indoor Track Marks Have Fallen |access-date=April 22, 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1302&dat=19350529&id=NFVVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4435,6196244 |newspaper=The Sydney Mail |title=Athletics |date=May 29, 1935 |access-date=April 22, 2014}} and repeated as national champion in the event. He also won his first national outdoor title, winning the hammer throw with 168 ft {{frac|8|1|2}} in (51.42 m).{{cite magazine |title=A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2011 |author1=Mallon, Bill |author2=Buchanan, Ian |author3=Track & Field News |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=28 |access-date=April 22, 2014 |magazine=Track & Field News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219021831/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=28 |archive-date=December 19, 2014 |url-status=dead }} The previous week he had thrown 181 ft {{frac|5|3|16}} in (55.30 m) at the New England championships in Newport, the best throw in the world that year.{{cite web |url=http://trackfield.brinkster.net/Profile.asp?ID=1650&Gender=M |title=Henry Dreyer |access-date=April 22, 2014 |publisher=trackfield.brinkster.net}}

On 29 February 1936 he threw the indoor weight 58 ft {{frac|4|1|2}} in (17.79 m), regaining the world record from Irving Folwartshny, who had thrown 58 ft {{frac|1|1|2}} in (17.71 m) at the national championships the previous week.{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2011/Gloversville%20NY%20Morning%20Herald/Gloversville%20NY%20Morning%20Herald%201936%20Grayscale/Gloversville%20NY%20Morning%20Herald%201936%20Grayscale%20-%205421.pdf |date=December 31, 1936 |title=Round the Sports Calendar - 1936 Chronology |newspaper=Gloversville Morning Herald |access-date=April 22, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%2011/New%20York%20Evening%20Post/New%20York%20NY%20Evening%20Post%201936%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Evening%20Post%201936%20Grayscale%20-%201283.pdf |title=Cunningham Gloomy Over Loss, Venzke Feels Elated |newspaper=New York Evening Post |date=February 24, 1936 |access-date=April 22, 2014}} He only placed third in the hammer at that year's national championships, losing to two other Rhode Island State alumni, William Rowe and Folwartshny. However, at the Olympic Trials, which were held separately the following week, he threw 171 ft {{frac|11|1|2}} in (52.41 m) and won by two inches over Rowe, qualifying for the Olympics in Berlin.{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1153 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |publisher=USA Track & Field; Track & Field News |access-date=April 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926191030/https://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1153 |archive-date=September 26, 2017 |url-status=dead }} He placed ninth at the Olympics, throwing 165 ft 5 in (50.42 m).

÷—–143+305*70

Dreyer won no national titles in 1937 or 1938, finishing second to Folwartshny in the indoor weight throw in both years.{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%205/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201937%20Grayscale/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201937%20Grayscale%20-%201994.pdf |newspaper=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |title=Folwartshny Keeps 30-Pound Shot Put Title |date=February 28, 1937 |access-date=April 22, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201938%20-%202529.pdf |newspaper=Long Island Sunday Press |date=February 27, 1938 |access-date=April 22, 2014 |title=Cunningham Sets Mark}} He regained the indoor weight throw title in 1939; in 1940 he finished second to Niles Perkins,{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%205/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201940%20Grayscale/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201940%20Grayscale%20-%201498.pdf |title=Perkins Takes A.A.U. 35-Lb. Weight Crown |author=Trost, Ralph |newspaper=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |date=February 25, 1940 |access-date=April 23, 2014}} but won the outdoor 56-pound weight throw for the first time, throwing 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m).{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/statistics/USA-Champions/USAOutdoorTF/men/WT.aspx |title=USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions - Men's 56-lb. Weight Throw |publisher=USA Track & Field |access-date=April 22, 2014}} He won seven consecutive national titles in the indoor weight throw from 1941 to 1947, a streak that remained unparalleled until Lance Deal won eight times in a row starting in 1989.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19970228&id=WVZWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6855,6869304 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |title=Deal's streak ends with injury |author=Bellamy, Ron |date=February 28, 1997 |access-date=April 23, 2014}} Dreyer also won the outdoor weight throw in 1945 and the hammer throw in 1943, 1944 and 1945.

Dreyer's indoor weight throw streak ended in the Olympic year of 1948, when he placed third as Bob Bennett won and Sam Felton took second.{{cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%205/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201948%20Grayscale/Brooklyn%20NY%20Daily%20Eagle%201948%20Grayscale%20-%201261.pdf |title=Bennett Wins Weight Toss In AAU Upset |newspaper=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |date=February 22, 1948 |access-date=April 23, 2014}} However, he regained the outdoor title; his throw of 41 ft {{frac|2|5|8}} in (12.56 m) exceeded Matt McGrath's old world record of 40 ft {{frac|5|3|8}} in (12.32 m) from 1911,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2293&dat=19480704&id=7N4mAAAAIBAJ&pg=3444,6275315 |title=Dillard's Streak Broken in Meet in Milwaukee |newspaper=The Sunday Morning Star |date=July 4, 1948 |access-date=April 23, 2014}} but the implement used was found to have been too light. He also qualified for his second Olympics in the hammer throw, placing third at the national championships (again behind Bennett and Felton) and second at the final Olympic Trials in Evanston, where he threw 173 ft {{frac|4|3|4}} in (52.85 m) and defeated Felton.{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1169 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |publisher=USA Track & Field; Track & Field News |access-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219020955/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1169 |archive-date=December 19, 2014 |url-status=dead }} At the Olympics in London Dreyer finished ninth, just as he had twelve years before; this time his best throw was 168 ft {{frac|6|3|8}} in (51.37 m), three feet better than in Berlin.

In 1949 Dreyer successfully defended his outdoor weight throw title. He also set his personal hammer best of 183 ft 3 in (55.87 m) and placed second to Felton at the national championships with 175 ft {{frac|6|1|2}} in (53.50 m). Track & Field News ranked him eighth among the world's hammer throwers that year, the only time he made the top ten as the rankings were first compiled in 1947.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/Rankings/20-mhtrank.pdf |title=World Rankings — Men's Hammer |magazine=Track & Field News |access-date=April 23, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Dreyer reached career-best form with the 56-pound outdoor weight in 1951; at the Metropolitan championships in June he threw 41 ft {{frac|7|1|2}} in (12.68 m), again breaking the world record and now legitimately,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19510618&id=wC8KAAAAIBAJ&pg=5561,2506578 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=June 18, 1951 |access-date=April 23, 2014 |title=Sports in Brief}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/54120922/ |newspaper=Delaware County Daily Times |date=June 18, 1951 |access-date=April 23, 2014 |title=Weekend Sports Summary}} although as the IAAF didn't recognize official weight throw world records it was only ratified as an American record.{{cite news |url=http://presstelegram.laserfiche.com/WebLink8/0/doc/2187/Page215.aspx |title=1936 Olympian Returns in Weight-Throwing |author=Zinser, Ben |newspaper=Press-Telegram |date=June 21, 1952 |access-date=April 23, 2014}} He also won the national championship, throwing 41 ft {{frac|6|3|4}}  in (12.66 m), a meeting record. In the hammer throw he placed second to Felton, throwing 182 ft {{frac|8|1|4}} in (55.68 m), his best mark ever at the national championships. He won a final national title with the 56-pound weight in 1952, throwing 40 ft {{frac|3|1|8}} in (12.27 m). His attempt to qualify for a third Olympic Games was not successful as, although he threw 173 ft {{frac|3|1|2}} in (52.82 m) at the 1952 Olympic Trials, it was only good enough for sixth place.{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1154 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |publisher=USA Track & Field; Track & Field News |access-date=April 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505141740/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1154 |archive-date=May 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

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Category:1911 births

Category:1986 deaths

Category:Sportspeople from Providence, Rhode Island

Category:Track and field athletes from Rhode Island

Category:American male hammer throwers

Category:University of Rhode Island alumni

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States

Category:Male weight throwers

Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners

Category:Rhode Island Rams men's track and field athletes

Category:20th-century American sportsmen