Don Bowden

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameDonald Paul "Don"•Bowden
Used nameDon•Bowden
Born8 August 1936 in San José, California (USA)
Measurements190 cm / 73 kg
AffiliationsCalifornia Golden Bears, Berkeley (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Don Bowden is best known as the first American to run a mile under four minutes, which he did in 1957, clocking 3:58.7 at the Pacific Association AAU Meet. In 1958 he ran on a U Cal Berkeley 4x880 yard relay team which broke the world record, although the mark was inferior to the 4x800 m record. Bowden was NCAA 800 champion in 1957, helping Cal finish second in the team race. He was also fourth in the mile that year at NCAAs. Bowden was Pacific Coast Conference Champion in the 880 yds in 1957 and the mile in 1958. He was later inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. Bowden worked for many years with Allied Chemical and helped to develop and promote the Tartan track, the first artificial running surface.

Personal Bests: 400 – 47.9 (1957); 880y – 1:47.2 (1957); 1500 – 3:46.5 (1957); Mile – 3:58.7 (1957).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics USA Don Bowden
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 11 h2 r1/2