Leslie MacMitchell

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Thomas Leslie MacMitchell (born September 26, 1920 in New York , † March 21, 2006 in San José , California ) was the most successful American middle-distance runner of the late 1930s and 1940s. He ran u. a. Indoor world records and was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award .

Life

MacMitchell suffered from diphtheria as a 7-year-old, which meant he had to lie in bed for four months and then learn to walk again. As a student at George Washington High School (New York City) in Manhattan , he became an American high school master in cross-country skiing and over 1000 yards in the hall. He then attended New York University (NYU), for which he was national cross champion in 1939 and 1940 and remained undefeated in indoor races. In 1941, for example, he became the first to win the James E. Sullivan Award , who had not finished his studies and was only 21 years old. In 1941 he set the indoor world record over 1 mile in Madison Square Garden with 4: 07.4 minutes , which was held by Glenn Cunningham and Chuck Fenske. In 1941 he became American champions over a mile both indoors and outdoors. After further victories, he completed his sports studies in 1942 and volunteered for the US Navy . He ended the war in 1945 as a lieutenant. After the war, he attempted a comeback in the 1945/46 indoor season, but this only succeeded to a limited extent. In February 1946, however, he was again able to become American indoor champion over a mile of the AAU . His attempt to qualify for the 1948 Summer Olympics failed because the training opportunities for track and field athletes who no longer studied were relatively poor. After completing his studies, he worked in school and university administration in New York and belonged to a. thirty years on the College Board . He was the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers - baseball team for its president Walter O'Malley . In 2001 he retired and moved back to California, where he volunteered to advise school administrators and died of pneumonia in 2006 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Frank Litsky: Leslie MacMitchell, 85, Former Track Star, Is Dead . In: The New York Times , March 28, 2006. Retrieved November 11, 2016. 
  2. ↑ MacMitchell King Of Harriers Again . In: Reading Eagle , November 19, 1940. Retrieved November 11, 2016. 
  3. ↑ Leslie MacMitchell, 85; First Undergrad to Win Sullivan Award . In: Los Angeles Times , March 31, 2006. Retrieved November 11, 2016. 
  4. ↑ MacMitchell Is 1941 Winner Of Sullivan Award . In: Ellensburg Daily Record , December 30, 1941. Retrieved November 11, 2016. 
  5. ↑ Bob Cavagnaro: MacMitchell Appears Man To Beat In Mile On Basis Of Performance In The Inquirer Invitation Meet . In: Times Daily , January 28, 1946. Retrieved September 11, 2010. 
  6. ↑ Anniversary . In: Sports Illustrated . February 28, 1955. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  7. ^ Arnd Krüger : American sport between isolationism and internationalism. Competitive sport. 18: 1, pp. 43-47 (1988) ; 2, pp. 47-50 . 22nd November 2016
personal data
SURNAME MacMitchell, Leslie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES MacMitchell, Thomas Leslie (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American middle-distance runner, Sullivan Award winner
DATE OF BIRTH September 26, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH new York
DATE OF DEATH March 21, 2006
Place of death San Jose , California