John Barnes

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJohn Baird•Barnes
Used nameJohn•Barnes
Born12 October 1929 in Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA)
Died25 August 2004 (aged 74 years 10 months 13 days) in Suffolk, Virginia (USA)
Measurements183 cm / 72 kg
AffiliationsOccidental Tigers, Los Angeles (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

John Barnes ran for Occidental College and won the 800 at the 1951-52 NCAA Championships. He finished second in the 1952 Olympic Trials but failed to make the Olympic final. In 1952 he ran on a world-record setting 4×880 relay team (with Bill Ashenfelter, Reggie Pearman, and Mal Whitfield) at the USA vs. British Empire meet in London. He later coached high school track & field from 1962 thru 1992, and also taught government at local colleges. He was a Civil War buff and collected antiques related to the Civil War.

Personal Bests: 440y – 48.1 (1951); 800 – 1:49.6 (1952); Mile – 4:19.0 (1950).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Summer Olympics Athletics USA John Barnes
800 metres, Men (Olympic) 4 h2 r2/3
4 × 400 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) United States DNS