First American woman to win 800-meter race in Olympic competition, winning the gold at Mexico City in 1968. Also competed in 1972 and 1976 Olympics. Won Pan-American Games gold medal plus U.S. Indoor and Outdoor national titles at 800 meters in 1967. First national title was earned in 440-yard dash in 1965 when she set an American record, one of many she was to hold.
Silver medalist in the high jump at the 1936 Olympic Games, he set a world record in the event at the National AAU Championships that same year, clearing 6′ 9-3/4″. Was Big Ten and NCAA high jump champion at Ohio State University after winning state high school championship at Cleveland East Tech. Also excelled in basketball and football at East Tech and was two-time Golden Gloves champion.
A world record-holder in the 200-meter and 220-yard dashes, he was U.S. 200-meter champion in 1961, ’62 and ’63. Won silver medal in 200-meter dash and gold in 400-meter relay at 1964 Olympic Games. Was high school All-American at Cleveland Cathedral Latin, winning state championships in 100 and 200-yard dashes in 1958, then twice earned All-American honors at Villanova University.
First American to win an Olympic medal in the javelin, earning the bronze in the 1924 Games. Broke NCAA and AAU records in his specialty while an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame. Also was a star tackle for the Fighting Irish, playing on the line in front of the famed “Four Horseman” backfield. Later became Director of Athletics at John Carroll University, spending almost 50 years in the teaching profession.
First man in Olympic history to win gold medals in the 100-meter dash (1948) and 110-meter hurdles (1952). Also won gold medals in the 400-meter relay in both Olympics. A state hurdles champion at Cleveland East Tech High, he later set world records in the 120-yard highs and 220-yard lows at Baldwin Wallace College. Won 17 national collegiate and AAU championships, once held 11 world, Olympic and American records simultaneously. Voted Sullivan Award in 1955 as nation’s Outstanding Amateur Athlete.
Acclaimed as the greatest track and field star of the first half of the 20th century, Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, winning individual titles in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the long jump, setting Olympic records in each and running on the Olympic record-setting 400-meter relay team. As an Ohio State University sophomore he enjoyed perhaps the greatest single day in the history of track, tying the world record in the 100-yard dash and setting world marks in the 220-yard dash, the 220-yard low hurdles and the broad jump. At Cleveland East Tech he set three national high school marks.
Ranked among the best athletes to come out of Cleveland West High, he starred in football, basketball and track there, twice winning the state high hurdle championships (1934 and 1935). Excelled in football on the University of Michigan team quarterbacked by Tom Harmon, was Big Ten high hurdles champion in track and was good enough in baseball to be signed to a pro contract by Washington. Was lost in action in World War II.
Helped develop an age-group track program that was adopted nationwide by the AAU and served as Greater Cleveland Area Chairman for this AAU sport from 1959 to 1970 and nationally until 1965. Served on the CYO Girls Sports Advisory Committee from 1968 through 1979 and on the Cleveland Board of Women Officials from 1962. She was chairman of the later organization in 1969 and 1970. Honored for her volunteer work in 1978 when she was presented the CYO’s Father James O’Brien Award.
Won national AAU half-mile championship in 1958 and repeated in 1960, setting American indoor records each time. Also won outdoor title record time. Earned All-American ranking in 1958 and 1960 and represented U.S. in dual meets with the USSR in 1959. Won several other AAU titles including the AAU Masters (indoor) in the 600 and 1000-yd. and mile races in the late 70’s.
Began his competitive career at Central Junior and Senior Highs, competing on the 1939 state high school championship team. Won Ohio AAU long jump titles 1942, 1944 and 1947, and as captain of the Ohio State University track team he won the NCAA long jump championship and placed second in the 220-yd. hurdles in 1944.