[2] The event was won by Fred Kelly of the United States, the fifth of five consecutive victories for the nation in the first five Olympic Games.

The American hurdles were favored, with Fred Kelly, John Case, and Vaughn Blanchard the Olympic trial winners.

The United States made its fifth appearance, the only nation to have competed in the 110 metres hurdles in each Games to that point.

The top two hurdlers in each heat advanced to the semifinals, resulting in only two men being eliminated in the first round.

Nicholson fell at the eighth hurdle, leaving Kelly to hold on and win by a narrow margin over Wendell.