Pitt’s Sowell Atoned With 800 Meet Record

Arnie Sowell of Pittsburgh had a point to prove at the 1956 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Berkeley, California.

Sowell won the 880 yards in the 1954 NCAA meet as a sophomore in a near-PR 1:50.5, but not making the 1955 NCAA final provided him special incentive for the 1956 race.

In 1955, Sowell finished fourth in his heat when only the top-3 advanced to the final. In that heat, he entered the homestretch boxed in.

“There was still time for a runner of Sowell’s ability to drop back and go around the field,” wrote Bert Nelson of Track & Field News. “But the champ elected to run it out in the middle and finish close up – but fourth.”

Sowell admitted that not remembering the top-3 advancement was his fault. “My coach told me, the starter told us, and I knew it,” he explained. “But somehow I forgot it. It was just stupid.”

In 1956, Sowell left no doubt.

After winning his 800-meter heat – the NCAA races that year were held at metric distances because it was an Olympic year – Sowell took off in the final like he’d never done before. He led by more than 10 meters after the first 200 in a blazing 24.3 and came through the first lap in 51.1.

T&FN’s Nelson reported that Sowell “passed 600 meters in 1:18.2 and although visibly tired was not distressed as he finished in 1:46.7.”

Not only did Sowell win by 2.5 seconds – still the event’s largest margin – he broke the American record of 1:46.8 held by Fordham’s Tom Courtney, who won the 1955 NCAA final in Sowell’s absence.

Courtney and Sowell would have at least two more memorable races that summer – Courtney reclaimed the AR by winning the Olympic Trials in 1:46.4 (Sowell 1:46.9) before an Olympic gold as Sowell finished fourth.

Sowell, a hurdler and long jumper in high school as a Pittsburgh native, showed uncanny range as a collegiate runner. In 1955 he once anchored his mile relay team in 45.4 – when the 440 world record was 46.0 – and finished third in that fall’s IC4A cross country meet.