Allen Tolmich
Encyclopedia
Allen Tolmich is a former track and field
athlete.
Tolmich was born in Detroit, Michigan, and is Jewish. He attended Wayne State University
, joined its track team as a walk-on in 1934, and was captain of it in 1936 to 1937. He was an All American from 1937–41, and a National Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) Champion in 1937, 1939, 1940, and 1941.
Between 1936 and 1941, he set 10 world and United States indoor track and field records, including the 60-yard hurdles, 110-meter hurdles, and 120-yard hurdles, and tied 5 of them. He was a National AAU Champion in 1937, 1939, 1940 and 1941.
While at Wayne State, in 1937 he twice broke the world record in the 200 meter hurdles at the AAU Championships (running it in 23.4 seconds and 23.3 seconds, on July 3), and won the national 110 meter high hurdles.
In 1939, he won the AAU national indoor 65-meter hurdles in 8.4 seconds.
In 1940, he set a new world record in the indoor 60-yard hurdles at Madison Square Garden
, at 8.4 seconds, breaking his own record by .01 seconds, as well as world records in indoor 50 low hurdles (6.0 seconds) the and the 70 high hurdles (8.4 seconds). In 1941, he set a new world record (5.4 seconds) in the indoor 45 low hurdles, breaking a 40-year-old record, and tied the world record in the 45 high hurdles (5.6 seconds).
In August 1942, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army Air Force, as World War II began to involve the United States.
In 1976, Tolmich was inducted into the inaugural class of the Wayne State University Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, and into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
in 2002.
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete.
Tolmich was born in Detroit, Michigan, and is Jewish. He attended Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, joined its track team as a walk-on in 1934, and was captain of it in 1936 to 1937. He was an All American from 1937–41, and a National Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
(AAU) Champion in 1937, 1939, 1940, and 1941.
Between 1936 and 1941, he set 10 world and United States indoor track and field records, including the 60-yard hurdles, 110-meter hurdles, and 120-yard hurdles, and tied 5 of them. He was a National AAU Champion in 1937, 1939, 1940 and 1941.
While at Wayne State, in 1937 he twice broke the world record in the 200 meter hurdles at the AAU Championships (running it in 23.4 seconds and 23.3 seconds, on July 3), and won the national 110 meter high hurdles.
In 1939, he won the AAU national indoor 65-meter hurdles in 8.4 seconds.
In 1940, he set a new world record in the indoor 60-yard hurdles at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, at 8.4 seconds, breaking his own record by .01 seconds, as well as world records in indoor 50 low hurdles (6.0 seconds) the and the 70 high hurdles (8.4 seconds). In 1941, he set a new world record (5.4 seconds) in the indoor 45 low hurdles, breaking a 40-year-old record, and tied the world record in the 45 high hurdles (5.6 seconds).
In August 1942, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army Air Force, as World War II began to involve the United States.
In 1976, Tolmich was inducted into the inaugural class of the Wayne State University Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, and into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
in 2002.