Arnie Sowell

Just missing a medal in the 800 when he finished fourth at Melbourne, in 1956 Arnie Sowell ran on world record setting relay teams in both the 4×440y and the 4×880y. He won six AAU championships – the outdoor 800/880y in 1955-56 and four indoor titles over 1,000y – 1955-57 and 1959.

Running for the University of Pittsburgh, he was NCAA champion for 800/880y in 1954 and 1956, and won five IC4A titles – outdoor 880 yards in 1954-56, and indoor 1,000 yards in 1955-56. Sowell won a gold medal in the 1955 Pan American Games 800 and with the 4x400 relay. He twice set world indoor bests, in the 880 yards (1:50.3) and 1,000 yards (2:08.2). Sowell later served in the Army and in 1959 competed in the Pan Am trials for the modern pentathlon, placing seventh.

Personal Bests: 440y – 47.3 (1955); 800 – 1:46.6 (1956); 1500 – 3:48.1 (1957); Mile – 4:11.2 (1956); 400H – 54.3 (1954).