Don McEwen
Encyclopedia
Don McEwen is a former track and field
athlete. He was a two-time NCAA champion in the two-mile run.
, he won consecutive NCAA men's track and field championships in the two-mile race. In 1950, McEwen won the NCAA championship with a time of 9 minutes, 1.9 seconds. In 1951, he repeated as the NCAA champion with a time of 9 minutes, 3.2 seconds. His two-mile time of 9:01.9 in 1950 set a new NCAA record.
McEwen also won six Big Ten Conference individual championships in track. His Big Ten championships include consecutive championships in the two-mile run (1950 with a time of 9:13 and 1951 with a time of 9:23.8) and a championship in the one-mile run (1951 with a time of 4:09.0).
Although the University of Michigan did not have a varsity cross country team at the time, McEwen also competed in cross country while attending the school. He won consecutive Big Ten Conference cross country championships. Competing in the four-mile cross country race, McEwen won the 1949 championship with a time of 19 minutes, 44.5 seconds and repeated as champion in 1950 with a time of 19 minutes, 34.3 seconds.
McEwen, was “thought to have legitimate medal prospects in the 5000 meters” at the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
, but he was unable to compete in the games because of an injury.
In 1953, McEwen graduated from the University of Michigan Business School with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
After graduating, McEwen became a sales trainee for Shell Oil of Canada. In 1955, he became a track coach. He was hired by the Ann Arbor Public Schools in 1958 as a math teacher and assistant track coach. He also became the cross country coach at Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School. In 1962, McEwen stopped coaching and became a full-time education and vocational counselor at Pioneer High School.
McEwen was inducted in the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
in 1988, and into the Michigan Men’s Track and Field Hall of Fame as part of the second group of inductees in 2007.
In February 2008, McEwen’s record for the fastest two-mile time in a dual meet between Michigan and Ohio State (9:04.6) was broken after standing for 55 years. McEwen was present at the Michigan Indoor Track Building as a volunteer timer when Michigan sophomore Sean McNamara broke McEwen’s record by approximately eight seconds. At the time, McEwen told the Ann Arbor Press: "He ran well. I'm just glad he wasn't an Ohio State guy."
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. He was a two-time NCAA champion in the two-mile run.
Biography
While competing for the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, he won consecutive NCAA men's track and field championships in the two-mile race. In 1950, McEwen won the NCAA championship with a time of 9 minutes, 1.9 seconds. In 1951, he repeated as the NCAA champion with a time of 9 minutes, 3.2 seconds. His two-mile time of 9:01.9 in 1950 set a new NCAA record.
McEwen also won six Big Ten Conference individual championships in track. His Big Ten championships include consecutive championships in the two-mile run (1950 with a time of 9:13 and 1951 with a time of 9:23.8) and a championship in the one-mile run (1951 with a time of 4:09.0).
Although the University of Michigan did not have a varsity cross country team at the time, McEwen also competed in cross country while attending the school. He won consecutive Big Ten Conference cross country championships. Competing in the four-mile cross country race, McEwen won the 1949 championship with a time of 19 minutes, 44.5 seconds and repeated as champion in 1950 with a time of 19 minutes, 34.3 seconds.
McEwen, was “thought to have legitimate medal prospects in the 5000 meters” at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, but he was unable to compete in the games because of an injury.
In 1953, McEwen graduated from the University of Michigan Business School with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
After graduating, McEwen became a sales trainee for Shell Oil of Canada. In 1955, he became a track coach. He was hired by the Ann Arbor Public Schools in 1958 as a math teacher and assistant track coach. He also became the cross country coach at Ann Arbor’s Pioneer High School. In 1962, McEwen stopped coaching and became a full-time education and vocational counselor at Pioneer High School.
McEwen was inducted in the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
in 1988, and into the Michigan Men’s Track and Field Hall of Fame as part of the second group of inductees in 2007.
In February 2008, McEwen’s record for the fastest two-mile time in a dual meet between Michigan and Ohio State (9:04.6) was broken after standing for 55 years. McEwen was present at the Michigan Indoor Track Building as a volunteer timer when Michigan sophomore Sean McNamara broke McEwen’s record by approximately eight seconds. At the time, McEwen told the Ann Arbor Press: "He ran well. I'm just glad he wasn't an Ohio State guy."