Mel Patton

Mel Patton
Patton (left) with coach Dean Cromwell in 1948
Personal information
BornNovember 16, 1924
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedMay 9, 2014 (aged 89)
Fallbrook, California, U.S.
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventSprint
ClubUSC Trojans
Coached byDean Cromwell[1]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)100 y - 9.2 (1948) World record[2]
100 m – 10.44 (1948)
200 m – 20.7 (1948)[3]
200 y 20.2 (1949) World record[3]
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1948 London 200 m
Gold medal – first place 1948 London 4×100 m relay

Melvin Emery Patton (November 16, 1924 – May 9, 2014) was an American sprinter, who set the world record of 9.2 seconds in the 100 yard dash in 1948.[2] He also set a 220 yd world record in 1949 on a straightaway of 20.2, breaking the record held by Jesse Owens.[3]

Patton won two gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics. He was ranked first in the world in the 100 m and 200 m events in 1947 and 1949.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference hall was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b New York Times, June 25, 1961, 73rd NATIONAL A.A.U. Track & Field Championships Of The U.S.A. at John J. Downing Memorial Stadium
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference sr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).