fred puffer was the son of customs deputy collector alfred puffer, who died while his son was still young. the younger puffer's athletic career began in 1887 with ymca and the olympic athletic club. his first major successes came at the 1892 national (aau) championships, where he ran for the manhattan athletic club; he won both the 120 yd high hurdles and the 220 yd low hurdles and helped his club win the team title. puffer's time in the high hurdles, 15.4, was better than the world record but had been wind-aided; additionally, he had knocked down hurdles, which at the time also invalidated performances for record purposes.