Ralph Williams (athlete)

Ralph Williams
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born(1900-08-07)August 7, 1900
Quincy, Massachusetts, United States
DiedJuly 6, 1941(1941-07-06) (aged 40)
Sport
SportLong-distance running
EventMarathon

Ralph Williams (August 7, 1900 – July 6, 1941)[1] was an American long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1924 Summer Olympics.[2] He made it on the US Olympic Team after finishing 7th in the Boston Marathon on April 19, 1924, with a time of 2:41:58.6.[3] The Boston Marathon was later measured and found to be 152 meters short.[3]

1924 Summer Olympics

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Prior to the marathon, the American team ran a 15-mile time trial.[4] It was a particularly warm day in Paris, where the Olympics were being held, and Williams quit after 3 miles.[4] Coach Michael Ryan, who didn't finish either of the two Olympic marathons he ran, suggested that Williams be pulled from the event.[4] The "head coach and the chairman of the Selection Committee" overruled Ryan and chose to run Williams rather than Carl Linder.[4] Williams did not finish the race.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Ralph Williams at Olympedia
  2. ^ "Ralph Williams Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Hymans, Richard. "The History of the United States Olympic Trials-Track and Field" (PDF). USA Track & Field. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e David E. Martin; Roger W. H. Gynn (2000). The Olympic Marathon. Human Kinetics. p. 468. ISBN 978-0-88011-969-6. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
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