John Halstead
Encyclopedia
John Preston Halstead was an American
athlete. At the Olympic trials held at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, on June 1908, He established the North American record for the 1500 meters of 4:01.2, besting the then Olympic record of 4:05.4. At the summer Olympics held in London in July 1908, owing to the English system of a blind draw for the preliminary heats, he was paired in the 2nd heat with America's other best miler, Mel Sheppard. Nauseated by an upset stomach just before the heat, Halstead was unable to produce his customary final sprint and lost the heat by a yard to Sheppard in a time of 4:05, thus disqualifying him for the finals. Sheppard went on to win the gold in a time of 4:03.4. Halstead upheld the American team's reputation for good sportsmanship by never uttering a word of complaint about the English system of a blind draw.
In the 800 metres
, held a week later, Halstead won his first round heat with a time of 2:01.4. He then placed sixth in the final.
He graduated from Cornell University
the same year with a degree in Mechanical Engineering
. During the latter part of 1908 and 1909 he was one of the engineers who worked on the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in New York City. He held the rank of Major in World War I and served as Commanding Officer of the Field Training Battalion at the Field Artillery Officers' Central Training School, Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, KY. He was married on August 17, 1922 to Frances Lewis Underwood, at Hutchinson, Kansas. He died on November 15, 1951 in Buffalo, New York. His ashes are buried in the Rome (NY) Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete. At the Olympic trials held at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, on June 1908, He established the North American record for the 1500 meters of 4:01.2, besting the then Olympic record of 4:05.4. At the summer Olympics held in London in July 1908, owing to the English system of a blind draw for the preliminary heats, he was paired in the 2nd heat with America's other best miler, Mel Sheppard. Nauseated by an upset stomach just before the heat, Halstead was unable to produce his customary final sprint and lost the heat by a yard to Sheppard in a time of 4:05, thus disqualifying him for the finals. Sheppard went on to win the gold in a time of 4:03.4. Halstead upheld the American team's reputation for good sportsmanship by never uttering a word of complaint about the English system of a blind draw.
In the 800 metres
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres made its fourth Olympic appearance at the 1908 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on July 20, 1908 and on July 21, 1908. The races were held on a track of 536.45 metres= mile in circumference...
, held a week later, Halstead won his first round heat with a time of 2:01.4. He then placed sixth in the final.
He graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
the same year with a degree in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. During the latter part of 1908 and 1909 he was one of the engineers who worked on the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in New York City. He held the rank of Major in World War I and served as Commanding Officer of the Field Training Battalion at the Field Artillery Officers' Central Training School, Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, KY. He was married on August 17, 1922 to Frances Lewis Underwood, at Hutchinson, Kansas. He died on November 15, 1951 in Buffalo, New York. His ashes are buried in the Rome (NY) Cemetery.