While a senior at Oregon High School in Illinois, Frank Loomis equalled the national interscholastic record of 24.2 for the 220y hurdles and after joining the Chicago AA he won the AAU title over this distance in 1917 and 1918. After winning the 440y hurdles at the Western Olympic Trials in a new world record of 54.2, John Norton looked a likely winner of the Olympic title, but Loomis beat him at the AAU and confirmed his superiority with a comfortable win over Norton at the Olympics with a new world record of 54.0. Frank’s brother, Jo Gilbert Loomis, was a talented high jumper and sprinter, who also made the 1920 Olympic team as an alternate on the sprint squad.
Personal Best: 400H – 54.0 (1920).
United States