Frank Waller

Frank Laird Waller (born June 24, 1884 in Saint Paul ( Minnesota ), † November 29, 1941 in Kansas City ( Missouri )) was an American track and field athlete who was active at the beginning of the 20th century. He specialized in the long sprint distance (400 m) and the hurdles .

The 1.76 m tall and 71 kg athlete, who started for the Chicago AA and later the Milwaukee AC, won four US championship titles:

• 1903 over 440 y (juniors)
• 1905 over 440 y in 49.6 seconds and over 220 y hurdles in 25.8 seconds.
• 1906 over 440 y in 50.5 seconds.

However, he was able to celebrate his greatest successes in 1904 at the Olympic Games in St. Louis , where he won two silver medals:

• over 400 m in 49.9 seconds behind Harry Hillman (gold in 49.2 seconds) and in front of Herman Groman (bronze in 50.0 seconds). The participating 13 runners, all of whom came from the USA with the exception of the Canadian Percival Molson and the German Johannes Runge , started straight away in the finals without qualifying runs.
• over 400 m hurdles in 53.2 seconds behind Harry Hillman (gold in 53.0 seconds) and in front of George Poage (bronze, time not determined). Four Americans took part in the race. When Hillman, who was leading from the start, stumbled at the last hurdle, Waller was able to catch up with him, but could no longer overtake him.

His personal best over 440 y is given as 49.6 seconds (run in 1905).

Frank Waller graduated from the University of Wisconsin . After finishing his sporting career he became a musician. First he worked as a pianist for the singer Lillian Russell . He then took on a senior position as a voice coach at the Kansas City Conservatory. In later years he served as director of the Milwaukee Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Broadcasting Company in New York City, and the WPA Orchestra in Richmond .

Web links

• Frank Waller in the database of Sports-Reference (English; archived from the original )