Ralph Spearow
{{Short description|American pole vaulter (1895–1980)}}
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| birth_place = LaGrange, Georgia, U.S.
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| death_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
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Albert Ralph Spearow (October 3, 1895 – December 17, 1980) was an American pole vaulter. He placed 6th in his speciality at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris; later that year, he exceeded Charles Hoff's world record in Tokyo, but his mark was never ratified.{{cite web |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79075 |title=Ralph Spearow |work=Olympedia |access-date=29 September 2021 |archive-date=29 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929193519/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79075 |url-status=live }}
Biography
Spearow was born in LaGrange, Georgia,{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/ralph-spearow-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418102746/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/ralph-spearow-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |title=Ralph Spearow Bio, Stats and Results |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |accessdate=April 25, 2013}} but became an athlete in Oregon, competing first for Multnomah AC and then the Oregon Ducks.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19190506&id=eGZjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JvADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4472,311837 |newspaper=The Eugene Daily Guard |title=Pole Vault Record Made in Portland |date=May 6, 1919 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165657/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19190506&id=eGZjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JvADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4472,311837 |url-status=live }} Spearow was a versatile jumper, excelling not only in the pole vault but also the long jump and the high jump.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19220522&id=Y84rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eoQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6683,987038 |title=Washington Beats Oregon on Track |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=May 22, 1922 |accessdate=April 25, 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19220812&id=G6xVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4387,391109 |title=Oregon Jumper Holds Pulpit |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |date=August 13, 1922 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165659/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19220812&id=G6xVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4387,391109 |url-status=live }} While at the University of Oregon, he was also the regular pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Cottage Grove;{{cite news |url=http://www.cgsentinel.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=&story_id=3168&page= |title=Ralph Spearow: CG's pole vaulting preacher, Olympian Spearow competed the 1924 "Chariots of Fire" Olympics |author=Thompson, Jerry |date=August 6, 2008 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |newspaper=Cottage Grove Sentinel |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130616084510/http://www.cgsentinel.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=&story_id=3168&page= |archivedate=June 16, 2013 }} after graduating, he left that post to become an insurance agent.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19250423&id=PMtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6309,3122541 |newspaper=The Eugene Guard |date=April 23, 1925 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |title=The Preacher's Salary |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322150237/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19250423&id=PMtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6309,3122541 |url-status=live }}
Spearow placed 4th in the pole vault at the 1919 national (AAU) championship meet{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=23 |author1=Mallon, Bill |author2=Buchanan, Ian |author3=Track and Field News |magazine=Track and Field News |title=A History Of The Results Of The National Track & Field Championships Of The USA From 1876 Through 2011 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071326/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/tafn-presults?list_id=36&sex_id=M&event_id=23 |url-status=dead }} and became one of the first jumpers to clear {{convert|13|ft|m|2}} in 1920.{{cite web|url=http://polevaultcanada.ca/records/13foot.txt |title=FIRST 51 MEN AT OR ABOVE 13 FEET (3.96,2m) |author1=Dumas, Gerard |author2=Ruth, Roger |publisher=Pole Vault Canada |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130616084430/http://polevaultcanada.ca/records/13foot.txt |archivedate=June 16, 2013}} In 1922 he placed 2nd at the AAU championships, losing only in a jump-off to Edward Knourek.
Spearow's best year was 1924, when he first broke the intercollegiate record with a jump of {{convert|13|ft|2.95|in|m}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19240528&id=TF0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4613,83815 |title=Ralph Spearow Holds World's Mark In Vault |date=May 28, 1924 |newspaper=The Eugene Daily Guard |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165658/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19240528&id=TF0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4613,83815 |url-status=live }} and then qualified for the US Olympic team. At the Olympic Trials in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Spearow and three others - Lee Barnes, James Brooker and Glenn Graham - cleared {{convert|13|ft|m|2}} to qualify for the Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1150 |format=PDF |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials - Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |publisher=USA Track & Field; Track and Field News |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702051900/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/special-articles/1150 |url-status=live }} Of the four, Spearow had the best attempts at {{convert|13|ft|4|in|m|2}}, getting over the bar twice but brushing it off on the way down both times. In the absence of Norway's world record holder Charles Hoff, Spearow entered the Olympics as the leading favorite.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19240619&id=HY0gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SWUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1315,6678076 |title=Americans to Contest Olympic Scoring Plan |publisher=Lewiston Evening Journal |date=June 19, 1924 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322150237/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19240619&id=HY0gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SWUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1315,6678076 |url-status=live }} However, he injured his ankle in training ahead of the competition{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1970&dat=19240705&id=G0gxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2eMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4193,372327 |publisher=Berkeley Daily Gazette |date=July 5, 1924 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |title=Forty-Five Nations in Olympic Games Parade Opening Paris Meeting |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165701/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1970&dat=19240705&id=G0gxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2eMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4193,372327 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19280613&id=flgbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=REoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3883,6116046 |date=June 13, 1928 |accessdate=April 24, 2013 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |title=Farrell Points Out Blunders at Paris Olympiad |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165659/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19280613&id=flgbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=REoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3883,6116046 |url-status=live }} and only managed a disappointing 6th.
After the Olympics, Spearow embarked on an exhibition and coaching tour in Japan with several fellow athletes.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241015&id=nl0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6844,6567261 |newspaper=The Eugene Guard |title=Experiences of Ralph Spearow in Japan Told |date=October 15, 1924 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165704/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241015&id=nl0zAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6844,6567261 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241106&id=h0YUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6950,922044 |title=Ralph Spearow Tells Of His Experiences In Tour of Japanese Isle |newspaper=The Eugene Guard |date=November 6, 1924 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322150237/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241106&id=h0YUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6950,922044 |url-status=live }} Near the end of the tour on November 5, in a meeting in Tokyo, Spearow had the best performances of his career, clearing first {{convert|13|ft|6|in|m|2}} and then {{convert|13|ft|10+1/2|in|m|2}}; the latter height exceeded Hoff's official world record of 4.21 meters. Spearow's jump has appeared in many listings of world record progressions since{{cite web|url=http://polevaultcanada.ca/records/prowm.txt |title=MEN'S OUTDOOR RECORD POLE VAULT PROGRESSION |author1=zur Megede, Ekkehard |author2=Hymans, Richard |publisher=Pole Vault Canada |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130616084444/http://polevaultcanada.ca/records/prowm.txt |archivedate=June 16, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://trackfield.brinkster.net/RecProg_All.asp?RecCode=WR&EventCode=MF2&Gender=M&P=F |title=Track and Field Statistics |publisher=trackfield.brinkster.net |access-date=2013-04-25 |archive-date=2012-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514020100/http://trackfield.brinkster.net/RecProg_All.asp?RecCode=WR&EventCode=MF2&Gender=M&P=F |url-status=live }} but has never received official recognition from the International Association of Athletics Federations.{{citation |author1=Butler, Mark |author2=IAAF Media & Public Relations Department |publisher=International Association of Athletics Federations |title=IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011 |year=2011}}
Why the jump wasn't ratified as a record is unclear, with both contemporary and later sources providing contradictory explanations. Bill Bowerman claimed the jump was statistically valid but Spearow's lack of an AAU permit to compete prevented ratification.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19620228&id=iftVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3OIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5401,5190369 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |date=February 28, 1962 |author=Strite, Dick |title=Highclimber |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165659/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19620228&id=iftVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3OIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5401,5190369 |url-status=live }} Track and field historian Richard Hymans quotes eyewitness Jonni Myyrä as saying the height Spearow cleared was found to be below the world record on remeasurement; however, Martti Jukola, also citing Myyrä as his source, claimed Spearow failed on his three official attempts and only made the height on an additional exhibition jump.{{cite book |title=Huippu-urheilun historia |year=1935 |publisher=Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö |author=Jukola, Martti |language=Finnish}} The November 19, 1924 edition of the Eugene Guard referred to Spearow "unofficially" breaking the record,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241119&id=kkYUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5513,1554960 |title=Ralph Spearow Is In States; Trunk Is Filled With Trophies |newspaper=The Eugene Guard |date=November 19, 1924 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322150237/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241119&id=kkYUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5513,1554960 |url-status=live }} while the November 21 edition said Spearow "tried for a world's vault record but failed by a scant margin."{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241121&id=lEYUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4366,1725724 |title=Ralph Spearow Home From His Tour of Japan |date=November 21, 1924 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |newspaper=The Eugene Guard |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322150237/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19241121&id=lEYUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4366,1725724 |url-status=live }}
Spearow died in Portland, Oregon on December 17, 1980.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19801231&id=pKRPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uFEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6542,8219316 |newspaper=The Bryan Times |date=December 31, 1980 |accessdate=April 25, 2013 |title=Plan Memorial |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165703/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19801231&id=pKRPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uFEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6542,8219316 |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{SR/Olympics profile|sp/ralph-spearow-1}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1924 Summer Olympics}}
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Category:American male pole vaulters
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Category:American Presbyterian ministers
Category:Oregon Ducks men's track and field athletes
Category:Sportspeople from LaGrange, Georgia
Category:Track and field athletes from Portland, Oregon
Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States
Category:People from Cottage Grove, Oregon