Lawrence Shields
Marion Lawrence "Larry" Shields (March 5, 1895 – February 19, 1976) was an American middle-distance runner who specialized in the 1500 meters. Around the time of the First World War he was a student at Mercersburg Academy and trained under the Scots American coach Jimmy Curran. Thereafter he attended Penn State. At the 1920 Summer Olympics he won a bronze medal in the 1500 m. He was also part of the gold medal winning American team in the 3000 m race but he was not awarded a medal due to being one of the two weakest links of the team.[2][3] Four years later Shields attempted to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris, but failed.[4]
Lawrence Shields in 1919 | |||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
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Born | March 5, 1895 West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States | ||||||||||
Died | February 19, 1976 (aged 80) Rochester, Minnesota, United States[1] | ||||||||||
Alma mater | Pennsylvania State University | ||||||||||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||
Weight | 64 kg (141 lb) | ||||||||||
Spouse(s) | Ruth Pike Noyes[1] | ||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||
Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||
Event(s) | 1500 m | ||||||||||
Club | Meadowbrook Club, Philadelphia | ||||||||||
Achievements and titles | |||||||||||
Personal best(s) | 1500 m – 4:03.0 (1920) Mile – 4:18.4 (1922) | ||||||||||
Medal record
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In 1923 Shields began a 37-year-long career at Phillips Andover Academy as a biology teacher, coach, alumni director and member of the Board of Trustees. Shields fought with the U.S. Navy in World War I and II, retiring in the rank of Commodore in the Pacific.[2]
References
- M. Lawrence Shields, Sarasota Herald Tribune, February 21, 1976
- Larry Shields. sports-reference.com
- Has It a Place?, Democrat Chronicle, March 4, 1947
- Shields, Old Mile Star, Will Try For Olympics, Binghamton Press, May 6, 1924
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lawrence Shields. |
- profile
- Belgium Olympic Committee (1957). Olympic Games Antwerp 1920: Official Report (in French).
- Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 11 August 2007.