In 1923, Ed Kirby won the IC4A mile for Cornell in a career best of 4:17.9 and only Joie Ray among U.S. milers ran faster that year. The following year Kirby and Ray met in the 3,000 m at the Final Trials; although Ray won comfortably Kirby proved to be the better man at the Olympics and, finishing in sixth place, he led the U.S. team home in the team race. Kirby took his degree at Cornell in civil engineering and worked for several engineering companies before his retirement in 1958.
Personal Best: 3000 – 8:46e (1924).