Jesse Mashburn

Jesse Mashburn ( Jesse William "John" Mashburn ; born February 14, 1933 in Seminole , Oklahoma ) is a former American sprinter who was active around the mid-1950s and specialized in the 400 meters . In the 4 x 400 meter relay , he was Olympic champion in 1956 .

In 1953 he won his only national championship over 440 yards in 47.1 s . In the following year, 1954, he finished 3rd in 46.98 s.

In 1955 and 1956, starting for Oklahoma State University , he won the college championship over 440 yards (46.6 s) and 400 meters (46.4 s), respectively.

He also appeared as a runner over 200 meters , but with moderate success: Only two sixth places in the championships in 1953 and 1956 (21.7 and 21.15 s over 220 yards) are for him.

At the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 he was a member of the US 4 x 400 meter relay , which was composed of Charles Jenkins , Lou Jones , Mashburn as the third runner and 800-meter specialist Tom Courtney as the final runner in 3 : 04.81 min won the gold medal ahead of Australia (silver in 3: 06.19 min) and the United Kingdom (bronze in 3: 07.19 min). Jesse Mashburn did not take part in the individual runs over 400 meters. The USA started in Melbourne over 400 meters with Charles Jenkins, who became Olympic champion, Lou Jones, who finished fifth, and Jim Lea , who was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

Mashburn had achieved international success as a single runner a year earlier at the Pan American Games in Mexico City , where he came third in 46.44 s. With the 4 x 400 meter relay of the USA, he also won the gold medal in 3: 07.43 min with more than five seconds ahead of the team from Jamaica .

Web links

• Jesse Mashburn in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )