Loren Murchison

Loren C. Murchison (December 17, 1898 – June 11, 1979) was an American athlete, double gold medal winner in 4×100 m relay at the Olympic Games.[1]

Loren Murchison
Murchison in 1923
Personal information
BornDecember 17, 1898
Farmersville, Texas, U.S.
DiedJune 11, 1979 (aged 80)
Lakewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Height174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Sprint
ClubNewark Athletic Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)100 m – 10.5 (1924)
200 m – 21.5 (1924)[1][2]
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1920 Antwerp 4×100 m relay
1924 Paris 4×100 m relay

Born in Farmersville, Texas, Loren Murchison was an AAU Champion in 100 yd (91 m) in 1920 and 1923 and in 220 yd (200 m) in 1918 and 1923. He also won the British AAA championships in both 100 yd (91 m) and 220 yd (200 m) in 1925.

At the 1920 Summer Olympics, Murchison finished fourth in 200 m and sixth in 100 m. He also ran the third leg in the gold medal winning United States 4x100 m relay team, which set a new world record of 42.2 s in the Olympic final.

At the 1924 Summer Olympics, Murchison was again sixth in 100 m and won his second Olympic gold medal as an opening leg in the world record (41.0 s) setting American 4×100 m relay team.

Murchison was an outstanding indoor runner. He won 14 titles (9 individual and 5 in the relay) at the United States premier indoor athletics meet, the Millrose Games.[3] He was also national indoor champion at the 60 y in 1919–20 and 1922–24, and 300 y in 1919–20 and 1923–24.[4][5]

Murchison was also a prolific breaker of records indoors. Amongst the world best times he equaled or broke are:[6]

  • equaled 60 y best of 6.4 s in 1920, 1922 and 1923;[7]
  • established new 60 y best of 6.2 s in 1923;[8]
  • 50 m of 6.0 s in 1925;
  • 300 y of 31.2 s;
  • 220 y best of 22.4 s.

It was such exploits that inspired Charley Paddock (1920 Olympic 100 m champion) to call Murchison "the greatest indoor sprinter of his generation and the finest starter of all-time.[6]

In 1925 Murchison was struck with spinal meningitis and paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life.[6][9][10]

A resident of Leisure Village in Lakewood Township, New Jersey, Murchison died at the age of 80 on June 11, 1979 at Point Pleasant Hospital in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.[11]

References
  1. "Loren Murchison Olympic Results". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  2. Loren Murchison. trackfield.brinkster.net
  3. "Everett's Finish in 600 Breaks Oldest Indoor World Record". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 8, 1992.
  4. "UNITED STATES INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)". www.gbrathletics.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  5. "USA Indoor Track & Field Champions Men's 60 m". USA Track & Field. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  6. Birkinshaw, Grant (2014). A History of Indoor Track and Field 1849 – 2013. Sponsored by IAAF. Edit Vallardi. p. 56. ISBN 978-88-95684-65-9.
  7. "Records Broken in Track Meet". Sacramento Union. February 13, 1922. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  8. Sprechman, Jordan; Shannon, Bill (1998). "January 31". This Day in New York Sports. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-57167-254-4.
  9. This author met Murchison in the early 1970s and heard his story directly from him. My father was his doctor. Original date claimed was 1925 but other sources suggest the later date of 1927/28.
  10. "Loren Murchison Suffers Relapse in Fight For Life". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. December 12, 1927.
  11. Staff (June 14, 1979). "Loren Murchison, 80, Track Star". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2011. For the last 16 years he had resided in Leisure Village, a retirement community in Lakeville [sic].
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