Athletics at the 1920 Antwerpen Summer Games:

The world record in 1920 was held by Ted Meredith, who had run 1:51.9 in winning the 1912 Olympic gold medal. But Meredith ran only the 400 in Antwerp. The 1920 AAA champion was Bevil Rudd of South Africa, who would later win gold in the 400 metres. Rudd succeeded Albert Hill, who won the 1919 AAA title. The U.S. champion in 1920 was Earl Eby.

The semi-finals and final of this event were held only 30 minutes apart. In the final, Eby and Don Scott (USA) led for the first lap, with Eby passing 400 in 54.2. Bevil Rudd took the lead with a lap remaining and held it until the final straight. He faded in the stretch as Hill and Eby fought out a close finish, with Hill pulling ahead in the last few metres. Hill had first come to prominence in 1909, finishing fourth in AAA four-mile event. During the war, he served as a signalman in the Royal Flying Corps. Earl Eby later became one of America’s top track writers.