Archie San Romani

San Romani was born in Frontenac, Kansas, on 17 September 1912.{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/archie-san-romani-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418002650/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/archie-san-romani-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |title=Archie San Romani Bio, Stats and Results |access-date=19 May 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/09/obituaries/archie-san-romani-a-1930-s-miler-82.html |date=9 November 1994 |access-date=19 May 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Archie San Romani, A 1930's Miler, 82}} He was run over by a truck at age 8, and his right leg was mangled so badly that doctors considered amputating it;{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1153 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |publisher=USA Track & Field; Track & Field News |access-date=May 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524033232/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1153 |archive-date=2013-05-24 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19360707&id=-rIhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2243,1351071 |newspaper=The Reading Eagle |title=Venzke's New Foe Overcame Crushed Leg |author=McLemore, Henry |date=7 July 1936 |access-date=May 19, 2013}} he took up running as a form of rehabilitation. His childhood paralleled that of his future friend and rival Glenn Cunningham, who was also from Kansas and also nearly had a leg amputated at age 8.{{cite book |title=Huippu-urheilun historia |year=1935 |publisher=Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö |author=Jukola, Martti |language=fi}}{{cite web |url=http://kuhistory.com/articles/cunningham-calls-it-a-career/ |publisher=The University of Kansas |access-date=20 May 2013 |date=20 April 1940 |title=Cunningham Calls It A Career |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028011921/http://kuhistory.com/articles/cunningham-calls-it-a-career/ |archive-date=28 October 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

San Romani studied at Emporia State Teachers College, getting his degree in music.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19370127&id=xwVRAAAAIBAJ&pg=3728,5602020 |title=Music and Racing Lure San Romani |access-date=20 May 2013 |date=27 January 1937 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19350805&id=yYhSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6024,5208807 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |access-date=20 May 2013 |date=5 August 1935 |title=Emporia Runner Works in Coal Mine for Condition}} It was there that he became one of the world's leading milers. He won the 1935 NCAA Championship mile by inches, edging out North Carolina's Henry Williamson in 4:19.1.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19350624&id=pYhSAAAAIBAJ&pg=4495,1841008 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |title=Emporia Runner Takes NCAA Mile |date=24 June 1935 |access-date=20 May 2013}} He was third behind Cunningham and Gene Venzke at the national championships that year.

He repeated as NCAA champion in 1936, winning the 1500 m title in a meet record 3:53.0. At the national championships in Princeton he finished second to Cunningham{{cite magazine |title=A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2011 |author1=Mallon, Bill |author2=Buchanan, Ian |author3=Track & Field News |author3-link=Track & Field News |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=5 |access-date=20 May 2013 |magazine=Track & Field News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714092846/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=5 |archive-date=2016-07-14 |url-status=dead }} but beat Venzke and world record holder Bill Bonthron for the first time. At the Olympic Trials the next week San Romani took the lead on the third lap and held it until Cunningham made his move with 300 meters to go. The two then fought a close battle with Cunningham prevailing by inches.{{#tag:ref|The national championships and the Olympic Trials were held separately for the first time since 1924. In 1992 they were merged into a single meet again.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1147 |author=Hymans, Richard |title=OLYMPIC TRIALS HISTORY INTRODUCTION |magazine=Track & Field News |date=21 June 2012 |access-date=20 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524031036/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1147 |archive-date=24 May 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}}} Both were timed in 3:49.9, barely a second outside Bonthron's world record.{{citation |author1=Butler, Mark |author2=IAAF Media & Public Relations Department |publisher=International Association of Athletics Federations |title=IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011 |year=2011}} Venzke was third, and these three were selected for the Olympics in Berlin.{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1936/ATH/mens-1500-metres.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171515/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1936/ATH/mens-1500-metres.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Athletics at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games: Men's 1,500 metres |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=20 May 2013}}

At the Olympics San Romani placed second in his heat to qualify for the final.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19360805&id=PQVRAAAAIBAJ&pg=2145,3307204 |title=Kansans Qualify |date=5 August 1936 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |access-date=20 May 2013}} In the final he finished fourth in 3:50.0, missing out to New Zealand's Jack Lovelock (who set a new world record), Cunningham and Italy's defending champion Luigi Beccali.

A week later, he was part of a United States relay team (with Chuck Hornbostel, Venzke and Cunningham) that set a new world record of 17:17.2 in the 4 x Mile relay.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19360815&id=RgVRAAAAIBAJ&pg=2114,4182248 |title=New 4-Mile Mark |date=15 August 1936 |access-date=20 May 2013 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World}} Finally, in October he scored an upset victory in Princeton, defeating both Lovelock and Cunningham.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19370614&id=weQxAAAAIBAJ&pg=6365,3416760 |title=Venzke Cannot Be Ignored In Princeton Mile, Says Veteran Coach of Track |newspaper=Reading Eagle |date=15 June 1937 |access-date=20 May 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19370615&id=DHddAAAAIBAJ&pg=2555,4899960 |title=Mile Mark May Tumble in Princeton |date=15 June 1937 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |access-date=20 May 2013}}

San Romani never won a national outdoor title, but he did become American indoor champion in 1937, beating an international field including Beccali and Venzke.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19370227&id=LMsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4918,6180804 |title=San Romani Beats Venzke in Mile Run |date=28 February 1937 |access-date=20 May 2013 |newspaper=Reading Eagle}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19370228&id=wlItAAAAIBAJ&pg=1679,5497017 |date=28 February 1937 |author=Super, Henry |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=Miami Daily News |title=San Romani Tops Rivals in 1,500 Run}} He ran his personal mile best of 4:07.2 in winning the 1937 Princeton Invitational Mile{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19370708&id=RLsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3966,1690372 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |date=8 July 1937 |access-date=20 May 2013 |title=Venzke Faces Labor Meet}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19380615&id=_bMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=5630,3016287 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |date=15 June 1938 |access-date=20 May 2013 |title=Gene Venzke Faces Mile At Princeton}} and stayed in good shape for the rest of the year. In Stockholm on 5 August he ran the mile in 4:08.4 - less than two seconds outside Cunningham's world record - despite halting after 1500 meters under the impression that had been the end of the race.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19370806&id=mx5PAAAAIBAJ&pg=3914,3976223 |title=Archie San Romani Near New Mile Mark |date=6 August 1937 |access-date=20 May 2013 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19370806&id=iYZdAAAAIBAJ&pg=2017,2605471 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |title=Misunderstanding Causes San Romani to Miss Mark |date=6 August 1937 |access-date=20 May 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19370806&id=jPMuAAAAIBAJ&pg=3065,470109 |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |title=San Romani Misses New World's Record |date=6 August 1937 |access-date=20 May 2013}} Three weeks later in Helsinki he ran 2000 meters in a world record time of 5:16.8, breaking Henry Jonsson's previous mark of 5:18.4. San Romani's world record lasted for almost five years until Sweden's Gunder Hägg ran 5:16.4 in July 1942.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19420722&id=lTUdAAAAIBAJ&pg=6554,2381565 |publisher=The Milwaukee Journal |date=22 July 1942 |access-date=20 May 2013 |title=Haegg Breaks World Mark}}

In the winter of 1938 San Romani suffered from health problems and lost some conditioning. While he managed to return as a leading contender and only narrowly lost to Cunningham in the 1938 Princeton mile,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19380620&id=D3JOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4765,6968852 |title=Fans Disappointed At Princeton Meet |date=20 June 1938 |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=Ludington Daily News}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19380619&id=AbQhAAAAIBAJ&pg=2889,3849267 |title=Favorites Win Feature Events in Princeton Invitational Meet |date=19 June 1938 |access-date=20 May 2013 |newspaper=Reading Eagle}} he never improved his personal bests again. He placed third at the national championships that year and remained one of America's leading milers until his retirement in 1940.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19401224&id=xbNQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2860,3586806 |title=Leading Milers in Sugar Bowl |date=24 December 1940 |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=The Milwaukee Journal}}

After retiring from Track & Field he lived in Portland, Maine for several years, working first as a musical instructor and then at the local shipyard.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19450517&id=95YgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1630,3646864 |publisher=The Lewiston Daily Sun |title=San Romani To Leave Portland |date=18 May 1945 |access-date=20 May 2013}} In 1945 he moved back to Kansas and opened a jewelry store in Wichita.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19600208&id=VVwaAAAAIBAJ&pg=1598,4384717 |date=8 February 1960 |access-date=19 May 2013 |publisher=The Milwaukee Journal |title=Archie San Romani, Jr. Reared to Run Mile}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cowley.edu/news/alumni/newsletter/2004_05/2004fall/sanromani.html |publisher=Tiger Alumni News |access-date=19 May 2013 |title=Archie San Romani |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113204639/http://www.cowley.edu/news/alumni/newsletter/2004_05/2004fall/sanromani.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 }} He eventually moved to California to teach music again he taught at Dale Jr High School, and Sycamore Jr. High School, in Anaheim California ; he died in Auberry, California on 7 November 1994. He was posthumously inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.{{cite news |url=http://cjonline.com/stories/010704/lsp_hall.shtml |title=State hall of fame announces '04 class |newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal |date=7 January 2004 |access-date=21 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160057/http://cjonline.com/stories/010704/lsp_hall.shtml |archive-date=7 December 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

San Romani married Lena Plumley in 1937.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19370719&id=eYZdAAAAIBAJ&pg=2864,1120947 |newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |date=19 July 1937 |access-date=20 May 2013 |title=Emporia Turns Out for Wedding of San Romani}} They had five children. Their only son, Archie San Romani Jr., also became a quality miler.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19640608&id=tP1VAAAAIBAJ&pg=5209,1621244 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |title=San Romani NCAA Pick |date=8 June 1964 |access-date=20 May 2013 |author=Strite, Dick}} A standout already in high school,{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1070491/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113210135/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1070491/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |title=Archie San Romani Sr. And Jr. 'I'm living my life over again' |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=11 May 1959 |access-date=19 May 2013}}{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1070602/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113210521/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1070602/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |title=A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=15 June 1959 |access-date=19 May 2013}} the younger San Romani placed fifth at the NCAA championships in 1963 and second in 1964.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/tfn_pdfs/ncaa_history_pdfs/06-ncaam1500.pdf |magazine=Track & Field News |author=Hill, E. Garry |access-date=19 May 2013 |title=1500m/MILE }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At the 1964 Olympic Trials he finished fifth as the top three again made the Olympic team.{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1157 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |publisher=USA Track & Field; Track & Field News |access-date=May 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524032326/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1157 |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} Track & Field News ranked him #6 in the United States that year.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/Rankings/05-m1500rankus.pdf |magazine=Track & Field News |title=U.S. Rankings — Men's 1500/Mile |access-date=May 19, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He ran his best mile of 3:56.6 in 1964.

https://www.registerguard.com/article/20160527/sports/305279958 Barrier Breakers], Register-Guard, May 27, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2021.

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Category:1912 births

Category:1994 deaths

Category:People from Frontenac, Kansas

Category:Emporia State University alumni

Category:American male middle-distance runners

Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)

Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics

Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners

Category:Emporia State Hornets men's track and field athletes

Category:20th-century American sportsmen