Raymond Milton Conger (November 12, 1904 – October 23, 1994) was an American middle-distance runner. He held the world record for the 1,000 yards and the American record for the

1,500 metres The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run (typically pronounced 'fifteen-hundred metres') is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics (sport), athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Champi ...

. In the U.S. national championships, Conger was a three-time winner in both the 1,000 yd and the mile run. At the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, he won his qualifying heat for the 1,500 m but did not finish in the final. In 1929, Conger became the first and only athlete to defeat Paavo Nurmi in the mile, beating the " Flying Finn" to the win in the indoor Wanamaker Mile of the Millrose Games. Although Conger was modest about his win, he would be known as "the man who beat Nurmi" for decades. Conger also scored wins over Otto Peltzer and Edvin Wide, and went on to be undefeated in the mile for two seasons. He retired from running in 1932. Conger ran track for Iowa State University in college, later obtained a master's degree in physiology, and then did further graduate work at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manha ...

. From 1931 to 1936 he taught zoology at

Carleton College Carleton College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. Founded in 1866, it had 2,105 undergraduate students and 269 faculty members in fall 2016. The 200-acre main campus is between Northfield and the 800-acre Cowling ...

in Northfield, Minnesota, where he also coached track. He then joined the faculty at the

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...

and was a long-time professor of professor of physical education preceding his retirement in 1970. In 1963, he was inducted into the

Iowa Sports Hall of Fame The Iowa Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the ''Des Moines Register'', honors outstanding athletes and sports contributors. To be eligible, members must have either been born in Iowa or gained prominence while competing for a college or universi ...

. He was born and raised in Riceville, Iowa.

References

1904 births 1994 deaths American male middle-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1928 Summer Olympics Olympic track and field athletes of the United States Iowa State Cyclones men's track and field athletes Columbia University alumni Carleton College faculty Pennsylvania State University faculty People from Riceville, Iowa Track and field athletes from Iowa {{US-middledistance-athletics-bio-stub

See also

References