Lee Bartlett
Encyclopedia
Lee Bartlett was one of America's top performers in the javelin throw
during the 1920s and 30s. The Hillsdale, Michigan
native was a three-time Olympian; representing the United States at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympic Games
.
; he didn't take up the javelin until joining the track team at Albion College
in 1926. Bartlett was twice Albion's team captain and four times the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
javelin champion; his 1928 MIAA
Field Day record was not bettered until 1969. During his junior year - in addition to competing in the Olympic Games - Bartlett won the 1928 National Collegiate Athletic Association
championship, establishing a new NCAA and American Open record in the process. The following year, Bartlett was runner-up at the United States Open (AAU
) Championships.
Bartlett remained an active competitor in the javelin through the early 1940s; he nearly became the first American to throw 73.15 meters (240-feet), at a 1940 exhibition in Grand Rapids, Michigan
.
After hanging up his javelin boots in 1942, Bartlett embarked upon a rewarding 30-year career as a teacher and athletic coach in Dearborn, Michigan
. On October 31, 1972, Lee Bartlett died at the age of 65.
Bartlett is the only Albion College and MIAA athlete to compete in the Olympic Games; he was honored posthumously in 1989 with induction to the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
during the 1920s and 30s. The Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale is a city in the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305. It is the county seat of Hillsdale County, and is run as a council-manager government....
native was a three-time Olympian; representing the United States at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
.
The greatest athlete in Albion College history
Lee Bartlett attended high school in Union City, MichiganUnion City, Michigan
Union City is a village in Branch and Calhoun counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located mostly within Union Township in Branch County, it sits at the junction of the Coldwater and St. Joseph rivers; the Calhoun County portion lies within that county's Burlington Township. It is part of the...
; he didn't take up the javelin until joining the track team at Albion College
Albion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
in 1926. Bartlett was twice Albion's team captain and four times the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association is an athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. The nine teams in the conference are all located in the states of Michigan and Indiana. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association was established on March 24, 1888, making...
javelin champion; his 1928 MIAA
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association is an athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. The nine teams in the conference are all located in the states of Michigan and Indiana. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association was established on March 24, 1888, making...
Field Day record was not bettered until 1969. During his junior year - in addition to competing in the Olympic Games - Bartlett won the 1928 National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championship, establishing a new NCAA and American Open record in the process. The following year, Bartlett was runner-up at the United States Open (AAU
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...
) Championships.
Post-collegiate years
In 1930 and 1932, Bartlett was once again the National AAU runner-up; he also placed fifth at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 1933, Lee Bartlett won his first and only AAU title in the javelin throw. Three years later, Bartlett took first place at the United States Olympic Trials, qualifying him for a berth to the 1936 Olympic Games.Bartlett remained an active competitor in the javelin through the early 1940s; he nearly became the first American to throw 73.15 meters (240-feet), at a 1940 exhibition in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
.
After hanging up his javelin boots in 1942, Bartlett embarked upon a rewarding 30-year career as a teacher and athletic coach in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
. On October 31, 1972, Lee Bartlett died at the age of 65.
Bartlett is the only Albion College and MIAA athlete to compete in the Olympic Games; he was honored posthumously in 1989 with induction to the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame.
See also
- Track and Field Competitors at the 1928 OlympicsAthletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's javelin throwThe men's javelin throw event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1928 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Thursday, August 2, 1928.Twenty-eight javelin throwers from 18 nations competed.-Medalists:-Records:...
- Final Results: 1932 Olympics - Men's Javelin
- Final Results: 1936 Olympics - Men's Javelin