Robert Fowler (athlete)

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Robert Arthur "Bob" Fowler (1882 -?[nb 1]) was an American long-distance runner who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world's best in the marathon on January 1, 1909 with a time of 2:52:45.4 at the Empire City Marathon in Yonkers, New York.[2][3][4][nb 2]

Biography

Fowler competed for the United States in the marathon at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri as well as the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece.[1] He did not finish either race.[nb 3] Including the 1906 Games, Fowler was a three-time member of the United States Olympic Marathon Team.[8][9]

Fowler finished third in the 1905 Boston Marathon behind Fred Lorz and Louis Marks.[10] Two years later in Boston, he finished second to Thomas Longboat in a race in which he was blocked by a freight train in Framingham, Massachusetts for approximately two minutes.[11] Fowler was in a second pack of runners that was separated from Longboat's lead pack when the train crossed the tracks.[11] He competed in a total of four Boston Marathons.[12]

Fowler was born in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and attended Saint Bonaventure's College in St. John's.[1] He emigrated with his family to Boston, sailing from Port aux Basques in June 1901, and was living at 76 Berkshire Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts at the time of the 1904 Olympic games.[1] Fowler is the first Newfoundland-born Olympic marathoner [13] and, as he did not become a US citizen until September 16, 1907, is considered by some to be the first Newfoundland Olympian.[nb 4]

Notes

  1. ↑ An endnote in Fred Mason's article refers to a 1981 interview between Robert Fowler and the late Frank Graham, original archivist with the Sport Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador.[1]
  2. ↑ Many references incorrectly refer to this race as the Yonkers Marathon. The Yonkers Marathon, which during the early 1900s was traditionally run during late November, was won over a month earlier by Jim Crowley.[5][6] Running Times has referred to the New Year's Day race as the Yonkers Empire City Marathon.[7]
  3. ↑ Conditions were reported to be poor for both races and less than half of the starters would finish either one.[1]
  4. ↑ Fred Mason wrote: "...Fowler did not take attestation of US citizenship until September 16, 1907. This means, technically, that he was still a citizen of the Dominion of Newfoundland when he competed in 1904, confirming his place as the first Newfoundland Olympian, whatever jersey he wore."[1] However, the Dominion of Newfoundland was not formed until 1907. Prior to then, the territory had the status of a British colony.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "A 'new-found' Olympic Nation Newfoundland's involvement with the Olympic Games, 1904-1934". Proceedings: International Symposium for Olympic Research, Oct, 2006 by Fred Mason. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Yonkers Marathon. Retrieved May 15, 2010
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 1907, Canadian Indian Victorious On Changed Course, Friday, April 19, 12:00 p.m. Boston.com
  12. ↑ Profile at www.sports-reference.com
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Records
Preceded by Men's Marathon World Record Holder
January 1, 1909 – February 12, 1909		 Succeeded by
United States James Clark
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