Mae Faggs
Encyclopedia
Heriwentha Faggs Starr1 (April 10, 1932 in Bayside, New York – January 27, 2000 in Cincinnati) was an American
athlete who mainly competed in the sprint events. She graduated from Bayside High School
, and then went to Tennessee State University
to run under Hall of Fame coach Ed Temple
, one of the first U.S. women to receive an athletic scholarship.
She competed for the United States in the 1952 Summer Olympics
held in Helsinki
, Finland
where she won the gold medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay with her teammates Barbara Jones, Janet Moreau
and Catherine Hardy
. Four years later she went to the Melbourne
1956 Games
as the sole returnee from the 1952 Games relay team, and teamed up with Margaret Matthews
, Wilma Rudolph
and Isabelle Daniels
but failed to retain the title, only managing to come away with the bronze medal.
In 1955, she won the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
in the 100 yard dash, in 10.8, record time. USATF reports her personal record as 10.70, though fully automatic timing was extremely rare and only experimental during her career. She repeated winning the 100 metres
the following year in 11.7. She also won the 200 metres
or 220 yards three times in a row, 1954-1956. Indoors, she won the 220 yard dash 6 times between 1949 (as a 16 year-old) and 1956, equalling Stella Walsh (who was later determined to be of ambiguous gender) for the most championships by an individual athlete in that event.
In 1976, she was elected into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete who mainly competed in the sprint events. She graduated from Bayside High School
Bayside High School (New York City)
Bayside High School is a four-year public high school located in Bayside, in the New York City borough of Queens, administered by the New York City Department of Education. Bayside High School, Abraham Lincoln High School, Samuel J...
, and then went to Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
to run under Hall of Fame coach Ed Temple
Ed Temple
Edward Stanley Temple is a women's track and field pioneer and coach. Temple was Head Women's Track and Field Coach at Tennessee State University for 44 years and was Head Coach of the U.S...
, one of the first U.S. women to receive an athletic scholarship.
She competed for the United States in the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
held in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
where she won the gold medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay with her teammates Barbara Jones, Janet Moreau
Janet Moreau
Janet Teresa Moreau is an American athlete who competed mainly in the 100 meters.She competed for the United States in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland in the 4 x 100 meters where she won the Gold medal with her teammates Mae Faggs, Barbara Jones and Catherine Hardy.- External...
and Catherine Hardy
Catherine Hardy
Catherine Hardy Lavender is an African-American athlete who competed mainly in the 100 meters. She won an Olympic gold medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1952 Olympic Summer Games in Helsinki, Finland...
. Four years later she went to the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
1956 Games
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
as the sole returnee from the 1952 Games relay team, and teamed up with Margaret Matthews
Margaret Matthews
Margaret Matthews is an American athlete who mainly competed in the 100 meters.She competed for United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia. Margaret Matthews native Atlantan and captain of the TSU Tigerbelles captured the bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meters with three of...
, Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was an American athlete. Rudolph was considered the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and competed in two Olympic Games, in 1956 and in 1960....
and Isabelle Daniels
Isabelle Daniels
Isabelle Daniels is an American athlete, who mainly competed in the 100 metres....
but failed to retain the title, only managing to come away with the bronze medal.
In 1955, she won the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
in the 100 yard dash, in 10.8, record time. USATF reports her personal record as 10.70, though fully automatic timing was extremely rare and only experimental during her career. She repeated winning the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
the following year in 11.7. She also won the 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
or 220 yards three times in a row, 1954-1956. Indoors, she won the 220 yard dash 6 times between 1949 (as a 16 year-old) and 1956, equalling Stella Walsh (who was later determined to be of ambiguous gender) for the most championships by an individual athlete in that event.
In 1976, she was elected into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame
National Track and Field Hall of Fame
The National Track and Field Hall of Fame located within the Armory Foundation at 216 Fort Washington Avenue, between 168th and 169th Streets, in Washington Heights, in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is a museum operated by The Armory Foundation in conjunction with USA Track & Field...
.