In one of the closest finishes in Olympic history, Evelyne Hall took second to Babe Didriksen in the 80m hurdles at the 1932 Games. Hall led going over the last hurdle, but Didriksen (en route to her second gold medal) beat her to the tape by only two inches. Both were timed in 11.7, a world record for the event. Hall was the AAU outdoor 80m hurdles champion in 1930 and won the AAU indoor 50-yard/50m hurdles in 1931, 1933 and 1935. She was a member of three national championship relay teams and in 1932 her Illinois Women's Athletic Club tied the world record for the 440-yard relay. A fourth-place finish at the 1936 Olympic Trials cost her a second chance at Olympic gold. After retiring from track, Hall stayed active as a coach and physical education instructor. She was the women's coach for the U.S. team at the first Pan-American Games in 1951. For several years, she served as the U.S. Olympic Committee's track and field chairman. Hall also worked as a supervisor of the Glendale (Calif.) Parks & Recreation Department.
World Record: 80 m hurdles - 11.70 (August 4, 1932 - )
1932 Olympics: 80 m hurdles - 11.70 (2nd) 1930 AAU: 80 m hurdles (1st) 1931 AAU Indoors: 50 m hurdles (1st) 1933 AAU Indoors: 50 m hurdles (1st) 1935 AAU Indoors: 50 m hurdles (1st)
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