Butler Relays

Description:	The interior of Hinkle Fieldhouse is decorated with bunting, streamers, and pennants for each of the participating teams in the Butler Relays. The event was a national indoor track meet for colleges and universities that was held annually at Hinkle Fieldhouse from 1933 until 1942. The event was founded by Butler University track and field coach Hermon Phillips. A 1927 Butler University graduate, Phillips was a member of both the track and field and cross country teams while a student at the University, and he was also a member of the 1928 United States Olympic team. Approximately 20 to 30 schools competed in each event, which featured between 350 to 400 student athletes. By the final event, attendance had increased to more than 10,000 people. The Universitys fraternities and sororities competed in ticket sales, decorated their houses and the inside of Hinkle Fieldhouse for the event, created floats for the Relays Parade, and even elected a Relay Queen who presented trophies to the winning teams. In the University Division, the Governors Cup was the award given to the winning school. Indiana University won the first year and the University of Michigan won the next eight years, while the University of Notre Dame won the final year of the event. In the College Division, the Mayors Trophy was awarded, which Butler University won a couple of times. Ten world records were set or tied at the event including in 1935, when Jesse Owens tied the world record for the 60 yard dash while competing for Ohio State. During World War II, the United States Navy and later the United States Army used Hinkle Fieldhouse for the housing and training of their sailors and soldiers. After the war, it proved to be too expensive to restart the event and the increasing popularity of basketball would have made it difficult to even schedule the event.
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/BldgsGrnds/id/957
Collection:	Butler University Buildings and Grounds Collection
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Copyright:	In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Geography:	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 39.843607, -86.167299 39.843607 -86.167299
Subjects:	Butler University--Buildings College buildings Field houses Sports facilities Gymnasiums Basketball arenas Track and field Track and field athletes Track and field coaches Sports spectators Flags--United States Bunting (Cloth) Butler University--History Indianapolis (Ind.)--History People Hinkle Fieldhouse Butler Fieldhouse Butler Relays Hurdles Pennants Fairview campus

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