Eric Wilson (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Eric Colquhoun Wilson was an American track and field athlete. He won the first NCAA championship in the 220-yard dash in 1921 and competed for the United States in the 1924 Summer Olympics
. He was the sports information director at the University of Iowa
from 1923 to 1968.
in 1900. He was the son of a professor at the University of Iowa
. He enrolled at the University of Iowa and became one of the most accomplished athletes in the school's history. Wilson was a sprinter who won two NCAA championships and two Big Ten Conference
championships while competing for the Iowa track team.
Wilson's first NCAA championship came in 1921. He won the 220-yard dash at the first NCAA track and field championships
in 1921
with a time of 22.6 seconds. At the 1922 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships
, Wilson finished second in the 220-yard dash and fourth in the 100-yard dash. In 1923
, Wilson won his second NCAA championship in the 220-yard dash with a time of 21.9 seconds.
Wilson was also the Big Ten Conference champion in the 220-yard dash in 1921 and 1923 and a member of the University of Iowa mile relay team that held the national intercollegiate record for seven years.
Wilson competed for the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics
in the 400-meter race. In qualifying meets leading up to the Olympics, Wilson had bettered the world record in the event with a time of 47.7 -- a time that would have been good for the silver medal in Paris. At the Olympic games in Paris, he failed to qualify for the finals, though his quarterfinal time of 48.8 would have placed him in fourth place had he run that time in the finals. The 400-meter competition at the 1924 Summer Olympics
in Paris
(won by Eric Liddell
) was later depicted in the Academy Award-winning film "Chariots of Fire
."
In 1923, Wilson became the University of Iowa's first sports information director, a position he held for 45 years until his retirement in 1968. He died in Iowa City, Iowa
in 1985 at age 84.
In 2006, Wilson was posthumously honored as part of the charter class of the University of Iowa's Kinnick Stadium
Wall of Fame.
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
. He was the sports information director at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
from 1923 to 1968.
Biography
Wilson was born in Iowa City, IowaIowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
in 1900. He was the son of a professor at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. He enrolled at the University of Iowa and became one of the most accomplished athletes in the school's history. Wilson was a sprinter who won two NCAA championships and two Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championships while competing for the Iowa track team.
Wilson's first NCAA championship came in 1921. He won the 220-yard dash at the first NCAA track and field championships
NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
The NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship is an annual collegiate outdoor track and field competition for men organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It has three divisions: Division I, II, and III. Athlete's individual performances earn points for their institution and...
in 1921
1921 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships
The 1921 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the first NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois in June 1921. The University of Illinois won the team title.-Overview:...
with a time of 22.6 seconds. At the 1922 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships
1922 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships
The 1922 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the second NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois in June 1922. The University of California won the team title, and nine NCAA records were set at the two-day meet.-Overview:The 1922 NCAA Track and...
, Wilson finished second in the 220-yard dash and fourth in the 100-yard dash. In 1923
1923 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships
The 1923 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the third NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois in June 1923. The University of Michigan won the team title, and six NCAA records were set at the two-day meet....
, Wilson won his second NCAA championship in the 220-yard dash with a time of 21.9 seconds.
Wilson was also the Big Ten Conference champion in the 220-yard dash in 1921 and 1923 and a member of the University of Iowa mile relay team that held the national intercollegiate record for seven years.
Wilson competed for the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in the 400-meter race. In qualifying meets leading up to the Olympics, Wilson had bettered the world record in the event with a time of 47.7 -- a time that would have been good for the silver medal in Paris. At the Olympic games in Paris, he failed to qualify for the finals, though his quarterfinal time of 48.8 would have placed him in fourth place had he run that time in the finals. The 400-meter competition at the 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(won by Eric Liddell
Eric Liddell
Eric Henry Liddell was a Scottish athlete, rugby union international player, and missionary.Liddell was the winner of the men's 400 metres at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris...
) was later depicted in the Academy Award-winning film "Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice....
."
In 1923, Wilson became the University of Iowa's first sports information director, a position he held for 45 years until his retirement in 1968. He died in Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
in 1985 at age 84.
In 2006, Wilson was posthumously honored as part of the charter class of the University of Iowa's Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium, formerly known as Iowa Stadium, and known in the area simply as Kinnick, is a stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the home stadium of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, in the sport of college football...
Wall of Fame.
See also
- 1921 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships1921 NCAA Men's Track and Field ChampionshipsThe 1921 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the first NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois in June 1921. The University of Illinois won the team title.-Overview:...
- 1922 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships1922 NCAA Men's Track and Field ChampionshipsThe 1922 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the second NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois in June 1922. The University of California won the team title, and nine NCAA records were set at the two-day meet.-Overview:The 1922 NCAA Track and...
- 1923 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships1923 NCAA Men's Track and Field ChampionshipsThe 1923 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the third NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois in June 1923. The University of Michigan won the team title, and six NCAA records were set at the two-day meet....
- Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres