MUTF Honors Olympians During 100 Year Celebration
1/12/2023 3:05:00 PM | Track & Field
Six MUTF athletes have competed in the Olympics during 100 year history
As the Marquette University track & field program celebrates its 100th year, it celebrates those who have gone on to represent Marquette on the international stage. MU has had six track & field athletes go on to compete in the Olympics during its 100-year history. Over the course of six Olympics and nine events, Marquette athletes have collected four silver, one bronze and one gold medal.
"It's one thing to qualify for the Olympics, which is an incredible feat in and of itself. It's something else to medal," said head track & field coach Bert Rogers. "To have multiple Olympic medalists amongst our ranks in MU history is truly special."
Marquette's first Olympian was John Brennan who competed in the 1908 Olympics before track & field was an official sport at Marquette. Brennan competed in the long jump and the triple jump in the London Olympics. He placed fifth in the long jump and eighth in the triple jump.
MU's first Olympians as an official program came three years after its inception in 1926 when brothers Jack and Pete Walter qualified for the Canadian national team. Jack and Pete ran in distance events for team Canada in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Jack ran in the 800-meters and Pete competed in the 1500-meters.
Ralph Metcalfe was the first Marquette Olympian to medal in an event and the only one to compete in multiple Olympics. During his time at Marquette, Metcalfe won six individual NCAA titles from 1932-1934. Metcalfe made his first Olympics appearance in 1932 at the Los Angeles Olympics. He earned the bronze medal in the 200-meters and finished runner-up in the 100-meters to receive the silver medal for the United States. Additionally, in that same year, he won two of his six NCAA titles.
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Metcalfe earned his second silver medal in the 100-meters. Metcalfe won his first gold medal and fourth overall as a member of the 4x100 relay team.
Marquette had its fifth Olympian in three-time NCAA champion Ken Wiesner. Wiesner won three consecutive NCAA titles in the high jump from 1944-1946. After a seven-year hiatus, Wiesner returned to competition as a member of the U.S. Olympic team in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He would go on to take second in the high jump and receive the silver medal.
John Bennett was the last Marquette track & field athlete to qualify for the Olympics. Bennett was a back-to-back NCAA champion in the long jump winning in 1953 and 1954. He would go on to compete in the same event for the United States in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Bennett would take home the silver medal for the U.S. team.
Keep up with the Marquette track and field program through social media by following on Twitter (@MUTFXC) and Instagram (@MUTFXC) and `liking' on Facebook (/MUTFXC).
"It's one thing to qualify for the Olympics, which is an incredible feat in and of itself. It's something else to medal," said head track & field coach Bert Rogers. "To have multiple Olympic medalists amongst our ranks in MU history is truly special."
Marquette's first Olympian was John Brennan who competed in the 1908 Olympics before track & field was an official sport at Marquette. Brennan competed in the long jump and the triple jump in the London Olympics. He placed fifth in the long jump and eighth in the triple jump.
MU's first Olympians as an official program came three years after its inception in 1926 when brothers Jack and Pete Walter qualified for the Canadian national team. Jack and Pete ran in distance events for team Canada in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Jack ran in the 800-meters and Pete competed in the 1500-meters.
Ralph Metcalfe was the first Marquette Olympian to medal in an event and the only one to compete in multiple Olympics. During his time at Marquette, Metcalfe won six individual NCAA titles from 1932-1934. Metcalfe made his first Olympics appearance in 1932 at the Los Angeles Olympics. He earned the bronze medal in the 200-meters and finished runner-up in the 100-meters to receive the silver medal for the United States. Additionally, in that same year, he won two of his six NCAA titles.
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Metcalfe earned his second silver medal in the 100-meters. Metcalfe won his first gold medal and fourth overall as a member of the 4x100 relay team.
Marquette had its fifth Olympian in three-time NCAA champion Ken Wiesner. Wiesner won three consecutive NCAA titles in the high jump from 1944-1946. After a seven-year hiatus, Wiesner returned to competition as a member of the U.S. Olympic team in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He would go on to take second in the high jump and receive the silver medal.
John Bennett was the last Marquette track & field athlete to qualify for the Olympics. Bennett was a back-to-back NCAA champion in the long jump winning in 1953 and 1954. He would go on to compete in the same event for the United States in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Bennett would take home the silver medal for the U.S. team.
Keep up with the Marquette track and field program through social media by following on Twitter (@MUTFXC) and Instagram (@MUTFXC) and `liking' on Facebook (/MUTFXC).
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