either hand." In December 1905, Coe traveled to Portland, Oregon, to face Ralph Rose. Coe broke the world record in the 16-pound shot put event with a throw of 49 feet, 6 inches. Coe's throw exceeded the existing world record of 48 feet, 7 inches, by almost a foot. The Detroit Free Press wrote: "In a review of the athletic performances of the year, first place on the list of Yankee record-smashers must be conceded to Wesley W. Coe, at present a student at the University of Michigan, who journeyed all the way from his home in Somerville, Mass., to Portland, Ore., in order to get a chance to compete against Ralph Rose, who at that time held the world's record." In March 1906, a challenge was made to Coe's eligibility to compete under Western Conference (now known as the Big Ten Conference) rules. Under a conference rule, athletes who had attended another college were required to sit out a year before competing in conference-sanctioned athletics. While the conference considered the eligibility challenge, Coe was permitted to compete for Michigan in the national championship meet in April 1906. Coe won the national collegiate championship in the shot put and finished second in the discus competition. Coe's efforts helped the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field team to win its fourth consecutive national team championship. In May 1906, the Western Conference announced that Coe would not be eligible to compete in conference events. The issue was decided by majority vote of the universities having membership in the conference. Boston Athletic Association In December 1906, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced that it had gathered a team of champion athletes to compete under its banner. The team included Coe as well as Ellery Clark, Olympic champion in the high jump and broad jump, and Robert Leavitt, Olympic hurdling champion. In February 1907, while competing for the B.A.A., Coe set a new world record in the 8-pound shot put with a distance of 63 feet, 1-7/8 inches, at armory in Medford, Massachusetts, during the annual indoor meet of the Lawrence Light Guard Athletic Association. Coe's throw hit the crossbeam on the ceiling of the armory 20 feet above the ground and still exceeded the existing world record by nearly five inches. In March 1907, Coe topped his own world record in the eight-pound shot put event and also broke the world record in