Abel Kiviat
Encyclopedia
Abel Richard Kiviat (born to Morris (Milton or Moshe) Kiviat and Zelda Kiviat on June 23, 1892; died August 24, 1991) was an American middle distance track event middle distance runner.
He was born on Staten Island
in 1892 and died of prostate cancer
at his home in Lakehurst, New Jersey
. Before his death at age 99 in 1991, he was the oldest American Olympic medalist. He competed for and coached the Irish American Athletic Club
, and was later a member of the New York Athletic Club.
According to his 1910 trading card; "He attracted attention as a runner when attending high school and became so fast that he linked his fortunes to the Irish American Athletic Club
in New York
and went into training in 1908. The following month at Travers Island, he won the Junior Championship for one mile for the Metropolitan District, making the fast time of 4:24. In the same year he won the Baxter Cup in the Columbia University
races at Madison Square Garden
, making the fast time of 4:23 2–5. He broke the world's record in the 2,400 yard relay race, his time for his 600 yards being 1:16, and 5:4 for the entire distance. He also won the Canadian mile championship in 1909 and again in 1910."
He set a 1500 m world record of 3:55.8 min in Cambridge, Massachusetts
in June 1912. He competed for the U.S. Olympic Team, as a member of the Irish American Athletic Club
, and won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the Olympic Games in Stockholm 1912
. He also competed for the US team in the exhibition baseball
tournament in Stockholm. (The gold was won by Arnold Jackson
).
In 1984, Kiviat, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
, and in 1985, he was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. The Abel R. Kiviat Memorial race is held annually at his alma mater, Curtis High School
, in Staten Island, New York.
A biography, Abel Kiviat: National Champion written by Alan S. Katchen was published in 2009 (Syracuse University Press).
Career
During the trip to Sweden in 1912 he was cabin mates with Jim Thorpe, a much renowned Native American athlete.He was born on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
in 1892 and died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
at his home in Lakehurst, New Jersey
Lakehurst, New Jersey
Lakehurst is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 2,654.Lakehurst was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1921, from portions of Manchester Township, based on the results of a...
. Before his death at age 99 in 1991, he was the oldest American Olympic medalist. He competed for and coached the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
, and was later a member of the New York Athletic Club.
According to his 1910 trading card; "He attracted attention as a runner when attending high school and became so fast that he linked his fortunes to the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and went into training in 1908. The following month at Travers Island, he won the Junior Championship for one mile for the Metropolitan District, making the fast time of 4:24. In the same year he won the Baxter Cup in the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
races at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, making the fast time of 4:23 2–5. He broke the world's record in the 2,400 yard relay race, his time for his 600 yards being 1:16, and 5:4 for the entire distance. He also won the Canadian mile championship in 1909 and again in 1910."
He set a 1500 m world record of 3:55.8 min in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
in June 1912. He competed for the U.S. Olympic Team, as a member of the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
, and won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the Olympic Games in Stockholm 1912
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
. He also competed for the US team in the exhibition baseball
Baseball at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Baseball had its first appearance at the 1912 Summer Olympics as an exhibition sport. A game was played between the United States, the nation where the game was developed, and Sweden, the host nation. The game was held on Monday, 15 July 1912 and started at 10 a.m...
tournament in Stockholm. (The gold was won by Arnold Jackson
Arnold Jackson
Brigadier-General Arnold Nugent Strode Strode-Jackson CBE DSO & Three Bars was a British athlete, British Army officer, and a barrister. He was the winner of the 1500m at the 1912 Summer Olympics, in what was hailed at the time as "the greatest race ever run"...
).
In 1984, Kiviat, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
, and in 1985, he was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. The Abel R. Kiviat Memorial race is held annually at his alma mater, Curtis High School
Curtis High School
Curtis High School operated by the New York City Department of Education is one of seven public high schools located in Staten Island, New York City, New York. It was founded on February 9, 1904 and was the first high school on Staten Island.-History:...
, in Staten Island, New York.
A biography, Abel Kiviat: National Champion written by Alan S. Katchen was published in 2009 (Syracuse University Press).
See also
- List of select Jewish track and field athletes