Charles Beetham

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Charles Beetham (April 30, 1914 – January 28, 1997) was an American middle-distance runner. He was United States champion in the 800-meter run in 1936, 1939, 1940 and 1941 and NCAA champion in 1936; he entered the 1936 United States Olympic Trials as one of the favorites, but fell in the final and failed to qualify for the Olympics.

Early life and collegiate career[edit]

Beetham was born in Cadiz, Ohio on April 30, 1914.[1][2] He studied at North High School in Columbus, Ohio and became a good runner there, guided by his older brother Rupert.[3][note 1] After graduating from high school Beetham attended Ohio State University, where he was coached by Larry Snyder; his teammates included Jesse Owens and Dave Albritton.[1][3] He was a sit-and-kick runner whose usual approach was to wait in the pack and outsprint his opponents at the end.[6][7]

As a sophomore at Ohio State, Beetham won the 1935 Big Ten championship in the 880-yard (804.7 m) run. He also won the 880 yards in a dual meet against the University of Southern California on June 15, 1935; his winning time, 1:52.0, was the fastest in the world that year.[4][8] Beetham entered the 1935 NCAA championships as the favorite, but dropped out early on the second lap.[9]

In 1936 Beetham defended his Big Ten half-mile title in a meeting record 1:52.4 and won the NCAA 800-meter championship in 1:53.0.[10][11] At the national outdoor championships of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) a week before the Olympic Trials Beetham won a close race against John Woodruff; his winning time, 1:50.3, broke Ben Eastman's meeting record by one-tenth of a second.[12]: 81 [13]

The 1936 United States Olympic Trials were held at Randall's Island Stadium in New York City; Beetham entered the 800 meters as a leading favorite.[1][12]: 4, 81  He qualified for the Trials final by placing fourth in his heat.[12]: 81  In the final, Beetham stayed in the middle of the pack for the first lap; as he started his kick early on the second lap, he was spiked by Marmaduke Hobbs and fell, losing his chances to make the Olympic team.[1] He did not finish the race, which was won by Woodruff; his appeal for a solo time-trial re-run was turned down.[12]: 81 

In 1937, his final year at Ohio State, Beetham repeated as Big Ten half-mile champion both indoors and outdoors; his winning time in the outdoor meet, 1:52.2, broke his own meeting record from the previous year.[14][15] He placed third at the 1937 NCAA championships as Woodruff won in a fast race; Beetham's time, 1:50.8 for 880 yards, was his lifetime best.[8][11]

Later life[edit]

Beetham continued running after graduating from Ohio State. He placed fifth in the AAU 800 meters in 1937 and third in 1938, but regained the championship in 1939; his winning time was 1:51.7.[5] He also won in 1940 (1:51.1) and 1941 (1:50.2), becoming a four-time national outdoor champion;[1][5] in addition, he won the 600 meters at the 1939 AAU indoor championships.[16] In August 1939 he anchored an American 4 × 800 metres relay team to an unofficial world record of 7:35.2 in a race against the French team in Paris.[17]: 146 

Beetham lost another opportunity to qualify for the Olympics when the 1940 Summer Games were cancelled due to World War II.[1] He enlisted in the United States Navy after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, but continued running; in 1945 he won the 880 yards at the Millrose Games and was awarded the Wanamaker Trophy as the outstanding performer of the meet.[1][7]

After the war Beetham took up coaching; he was assistant coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes track team from 1946 to 1966.[1][18] He was inducted in the Ohio State Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 1981.[1] Beetham died on January 28, 1997.[2][18]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Rupert Beetham was also a good half-miler; in 1930 he placed second behind Edwin Genung at the United States championships.[4][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Oller, Rob (December 22, 2014). "Rob Oller: Former Ohio State track star Charlie Beetham inspirational in his own right". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 2020-04-30 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b "Alphabetical Index Of All Olympic Trials Competitors" (PDF). Track & Field News. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  3. ^ a b ""Chuck" Beetham, Track Star, Is Coshocton's Olympic Hope". Coshocton Tribune. Vol. XXVII, no. 251. May 3, 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-04-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Currie, George (June 15, 1935). "Ohio State Without Owens". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-04-30 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian; Track & Field News. "A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2015". Track & Field News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  6. ^ "Track Marks May Topple In N.C.A.A. Meet". Chicago Tribune. Vol. XCV, no. 144 (Final ed.). June 16, 1936. pp. 23–4. Retrieved 2022-04-30 – via Newspapers.com.-----2nd part of article
  7. ^ a b "Beetham Voted Wanamaker Trophy" (PDF). The New York Sun. February 5, 1945. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Charles Beetham". Track and Field Statistics. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Newland, Russell J. (Associated Press) (June 23, 1935). "Jesse Owens Wins Four NCAA Titles" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. p. 4. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "Lash Features Indiana's Win In Track Meet". Miami News. May 24, 1936. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  11. ^ a b Hill, E. Garry. "A History of the NCAA Championships: 800 Meters" (PDF). Track & Field News. Retrieved November 8, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ a b c d Hymans, Richard (2008). "The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field" (PDF). USA Track & Field. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  13. ^ "Janitor Breaks World Record in National A.A.U. Pole Vault". Part 2. Chicago Tribune. Vol. XCV, no. 27. Associated Press. July 5, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-04-30 – via Newspapers.com.-----Part 2 of article
  14. ^ "Indoor Title Is Captured By Michigan". The Evening Independent. March 15, 1937. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  15. ^ "Illinois Tracksters Take Fourth Place In Big Ten Meet". May 23, 1937. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  16. ^ "USA Indoor Track & Field Champions: Men's 500 m". USA Track & Field. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  17. ^ Hymans, Richard; Matrahazi, Imre. "IAAF World Records Progression" (PDF) (2015 ed.). International Association of Athletics Federations. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "The Ohio State University; Official Proceedings of the One Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty First Meeting of the Board of Trustees" (PDF). May 2, 1997. p. 31. Retrieved November 9, 2015.

Further reading[edit]

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