Fred Sowerby
Encyclopedia
Frederick Oliver Newgent "Fred" Sowerby, Sr. (born December 11, 1948 in Montserrat
) is an Track and Field
athlete from Antigua and Barbuda
, known primarily for running the 400 metres
. At the 1976 Summer Olympics
, he was eliminated by finishing seventh in the quarterfinals while running more than two seconds slower than his personal best of 45.6, set earlier that year. He also anchored his team, finishing last in their qualifying round. Sowerby still holds the Antiguan and Barbudan national records
in the 400 metres, and 400 metres hurdles
.
He is also a three time champion in the now defunct 500 metres at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
. Sowerby is a 1973 graduate of Murray State University
, where he was elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.
Sowerby, had a successful career as head track and field coach of Delaware State University
, receiving several Coach of the year awards. He then relocated to his Alma Mater, Murray State University
, where he coached the track teams to several victories until 1993.
After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada
, where he was an assistant coach for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
, Sowerby has continued to run in Masters athletics wearing the USA uniform, setting the World Masters Athletics
World Record
in the M45 and M50 age divisions in 1994 and 1999 respectively. Sowerby also still holds the World M45 Record for the Indoor 400, set in 1994.
Sowerby currently is retired from collegiate athletics and lives in Kentucky with his wife, Carolyn. He has six children: Brian, Vaedra, Fred, Jr., LaTonya, Terrance, and Stephon.
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
) is an Track and Field
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 from Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands...
, known primarily for running the 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
. At the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, he was eliminated by finishing seventh in the quarterfinals while running more than two seconds slower than his personal best of 45.6, set earlier that year. He also anchored his team, finishing last in their qualifying round. Sowerby still holds the Antiguan and Barbudan national records
Antiguan and Barbudan records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Antigua and Barbuda maintained by country's national athletics federation: Athletic Association of Antigua & Barbuda.-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:ht = hand timing# = not officially ratified...
in the 400 metres, and 400 metres hurdles
400 metres hurdles
The 400 metres hurdles is an Olympic athletics event in track and field. On a standard outdoor track 400 metres is the length of the inside lane once around the stadium. Runners stay in their lane the entire way after starting out of the blocks and must clear ten hurdles that are evenly...
.
He is also a three time champion in the now defunct 500 metres at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Indoor Track and Field Championships is an annual indoor track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
. Sowerby is a 1973 graduate of Murray State University
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
, where he was elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.
Sowerby, had a successful career as head track and field coach of Delaware State University
Delaware State University
Delaware State University , is an American historically black, public university located in Dover, Delaware, and there are two satellite campuses located in Wilmington, Delaware, and Georgetown, Delaware...
, receiving several Coach of the year awards. He then relocated to his Alma Mater, Murray State University
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
, where he coached the track teams to several victories until 1993.
After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, where he was an assistant coach for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
, Sowerby has continued to run in Masters athletics wearing the USA uniform, setting the World Masters Athletics
World Masters Athletics
World Masters Athletics is the worldwide governing body for the sport of masters athletics – which includes track and field, cross country, and road running events – as participated by people over 35 years of age....
World Record
Masters Athletics World Records
These are the current world records in the various age groups of Masters athletics. Starting at age 35, each age group starts on the athlete's birthday in years that are evenly divisible by 5 and extends until the next such occurrence. For record purposes, older athletes are not included in...
in the M45 and M50 age divisions in 1994 and 1999 respectively. Sowerby also still holds the World M45 Record for the Indoor 400, set in 1994.
Sowerby currently is retired from collegiate athletics and lives in Kentucky with his wife, Carolyn. He has six children: Brian, Vaedra, Fred, Jr., LaTonya, Terrance, and Stephon.