Harold Davis (born January 5, 1921, in Salinas, California, died August 12, 2007) was an American Track and Field athlete. He was a World Record holder in the 100 metres. In 1974, he was elected to the USA Track & Field National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Nicknamed the "California Comet", he tied Jesse Owens world record running into a headwind at the Compton Relays on June 6, 1941, and was regarded as the fastest sprinter in the world for a four-year period. Unfortunately for Davis, this was during World War II and the Olympics were cancelled, depriving him of an opportunity for international recognition.
During the period 1940–43, Davis never lost a race over 220 y and only one over 100 y. This last race was a loss to the only man who could be considered his equal, Barney Ewell. The loss happened in the 1941 United States 100 y championship race. Even here, after a poor start, Davis nearly caught Ewell at the finish. [1] In these years when Davis was the man to beat he won 3 United States championships at 100 m (1940,1942–43) and 4 at 200 m (1940–43). [2]
On 6 June 1941, he equalled Jesse Owen's world record for 100 m of 10.2 s (the time was achieved in a heat, he won the final in 10.4 s). On 16 May 1942, he equalled the 100 y record of 9.4 s but this time was never accepted by the world governing body the IAAF because Davis used starting blocks of a type not officially approved. [3]
Davis also ran two wind-aided 220 y/ 200 m races in 20.2 s when the then world record was 20.3 s. The first occurred on 17 May 1941, the second in the United States championship final on 20 June 1943. [4]
At the peak of his career Davis, the "California Comet", was famous throughout the United States not just California, with the simple fact that Davis had submitted an entry to a meet being newsworthy. [5] [6]
Davis was a talented runner at Live Oak High School, just north of his birthplace in a rural town named Morgan Hill, California – as a 17-year-old he ran 100 y in 9.7 s and 220 y (straight course) in 21.0 s (the then world records were 9.4 s and 20.3 s respectively by Jesse Owens). [1]
After graduation, he went to Salinas Junior College (now Hartnell College). Here he was coached by Hall of Fame coach Lloyd (Bud) Winter, then later at the University of California by Hall of Fame coach Brutus Hamilton. [7]
The depth of Davis's talent was first seen in a race he did not win. On May 7, 1940, he finished fourth in the NCAA 100 y race championship race against some of the best sprinters of the day. He stumbled at the start but made up 4–7 m of deficit in 65 m of the race. Davis was always renowned as a poor starter but this was exceptionally poor even for him. [1] Davis went on to win NCAA 100 and 220-yard titles in 1942 and 1943 representing the University of California. [8]
Davis suffered a hamstring injury in 1946 that ended his track career. [7]
Davis died in Lakeport, California, in 2007. [9]
William Harrison "Bones" Dillard was an American track and field athlete, who is the only male in the history of the Olympic Games to win gold in both the 100 meter (sprints) and the 110 meter hurdles, making him the “World’s Fastest Man” in 1948 and the “World’s Fastest Hurdler” in 1952.
Andrew William Stanfield was an American sprinter and Olympic gold and silver medallist.
Henry Carr was an American track and field athlete who won two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Calvin Smith is a former sprint track and field athlete from the United States. He is a former world record holder in the 100-meter sprint with 9.93 seconds in 1983 and was twice world champion over 200 metres, in 1983 and 1987. He became Olympic champion in the 4x100-meter relay in 1984. He was born in Bolton, Mississippi.
Maxwell Lander ("Maxie") Parks is an American former athlete from Fresno, California.
Silvio Leonard Sarría also known as Silvio Leonard Tartabull is a former sprinter from Cuba.
Payton Jordan was the head coach of the 1968 United States Olympic track and field team, one of the most powerful track teams ever assembled, which won a record twenty-four medals, including twelve golds. He was born in Whittier, California. Jordan was exceedingly successful as a collegiate track coach for a decade at Occidental College and for 23 years at Stanford University. A star three-sport athlete in his youth, Jordan more recently became one of the most dominant track athletes of all time, as a sprinter, in senior divisions. Jordan died of cancer at his home in Laguna Hills, California on February 5, 2009.
Donald Fithian Lippincott was an American athlete who competed in the sprint events. He competed for the United States in the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden where he finished third in the 100 m and second in the 200 m.
James Sanford is a retired track and field sprinter from the United States.
Steve Williams is a retired track and field sprinter from the United States. He equalled the men's world records for the 100 m and 200 m with hand-timed runs of 9.9 seconds and 19.8 seconds, respectively, and was also a member of a team that set a world record in the 4 × 100 m relay.
Stanley Floyd is a retired track and field sprinter from the United States. He was a 1979 graduate of Dougherty High School in Albany, Georgia. In 1980, he was considered one of the favorites for the 100m title but was denied his chance due to the United States boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Arthur "Art" George Bragg was an American sprinter who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Sylvia Mosqueda is an American long distance runner notable for hard front running over an extended career at an elite level.
Jim Golliday was an American sprinter, specializing in the 100 yards and 100 meters events. He was the United States 100 yards champion in 1951.
Brooks Johnson is a former sprinter and a current American track coach.
Mark Edward Lutz is an American former sprinter. He ran for his home country in the 200 metres at the 1976 Summer Olympics, finishing 5th in his qualifying heat.
Charles Tidwell was an American track athlete who was one of the best sprinter/hurdlers in the world in the years 1958–60. He was denied a chance to run in the 1960 Olympics by injury.
Kenneth Edward Dennis was an American track and field athlete. As a Masters sprinter he held the world record in the 100 metres in several age groups. Standing 5'3" the short Dennis was known for his soft-spoken nature, his greetings of "Hey man" or "Go man" and his blazing fast starts.
Fred Arrington Wolcott was an American track and field athlete who was United States champion and world record holder in the sprint hurdles events in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Reginald Jones is an American track and field athlete. He is best known for recording a time in 1975 that equalled the then world record in the 100 meter dash and being a member of teams that in 1976 equalled the world records for the 4x220 y and 4 × 200 m relays.