Fred Wolcott facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | November 28, 1915 Snyder, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 26, 1972 (aged 56) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Running |
| Event(s) | 110 metres hurdles, 200 metres hurdles |
Fred Arrington Wolcott (born November 28, 1915 – died January 26, 1972) was an amazing American track and field athlete. He was known for being a champion and a world record holder in hurdling events. This means he was super fast at jumping over barriers while running! He achieved his greatest successes in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
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Fred Wolcott: A Hurdles Star
Fred Wolcott grew up in Texas. After finishing Snyder High School, he went to Rice University. There, he joined the university's track team, known as the 'Rice Owls'. He quickly became a standout athlete.
Fred was a top hurdler, but he missed out on the Olympic Games because of World War II. Even without the Olympics, he set world records. He also won many championships. He was a seven-time national champion in the United States. He won five college championships and ten gold medals in the Southwest Conference. At his best, many people thought he was the best hurdler in the U.S.
Winning Championships
Fred Wolcott won many important races during his career. These wins showed he was one of the best hurdlers in the country.
National and College Wins
Fred won several titles at the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) championships. These were like the national championships for athletes in the U.S.
- He was the champion in the 110 meters hurdles in 1938, 1940, and 1941.
- He also won the 220 yards hurdles in 1938, 1939, 1940, and 1941.
He also had great success at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) championships. These were big competitions for college athletes.
- He won the 120 yards hurdles in 1938 and 1939.
- He was the champion in the 220 yards hurdles in 1938, 1939, and 1940.
Setting World Records
Fred Wolcott set incredible world records during his time as a track athlete. A world record means he ran faster than anyone else in history at that time.
- He set a world record in the 120 yards/110 meters hurdles. He ran it in just 13.7 seconds in Philadelphia on June 20, 1941.
- He also set a record in the 200 meters/220 yards hurdles (on a straight track). He finished in 22.3 or 22.5 seconds in Princeton on June 8, 1940.
He also ran other super fast times that were not officially recognized as world records. This can happen for different reasons, like small technical rules.
Awards and Honors
Fred Wolcott's amazing career earned him many awards and honors. These awards celebrate his lasting impact on sports.
- In 1970, he was one of the first people to be put into the Rice Athletics Hall of Fame.
- In 2005, he was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame. This is a very high honor for track athletes in the United States.
He was also inducted into other important halls of fame:
- The Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1958.
- The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.
- The Snyder Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
