Horace Ashenfelter

From Free net encyclopedia

Horace Ashenfelter, III (born January 23, 1923 in Collegeville, Pennsylvania) was an American athlete. He competed in international athletics from 1947 to 1956 after service in World War II and the completion of his degree at Penn State.

Ashenfelter was one of America's finest runners during his career but he was outpaced by many international performers. During his career he won 15 national AAU titles and three collegiate national titles.

Although he was considered a long shot, Ashenfelter was the surprise winner of the steeplechase at the 1952 Summer Olympics at Helsinki. He finished ahead of Vladimir Kazantsev of USSR and broke Kazantsev's world record in the process. Since Ashenfelter worked for CIA, it led to humourous comments about him being the first American spy who allowed himself to be chased by a Russian. In addition, Ashenfelter won the Sullivan Award as outstanding amateur athlete for the year 1952.

Now retired and living in New Jersey. The indoor track facility at Penn State is named in his honor.

Olympic medalists in athletics (men) | Olympic Champions in Men's steeplechase

2500 m steeplechase: George Orton | 2590 m steeplechase: Jim Lightbody | 3200 m steeplechase: Arthur Russell

4000 m steeplechase: John Rimmer

3000 m steeplechase: Percy Hodge | Ville Ritola | Toivo Loukola | Volmari Iso-Hollo (twice) | Tore Sjöstrand | Horace Ashenfelter | Chris Brasher | Zdzisław Krzyszowiak | Gaston Roelants | Amos Biwott | Kip Keino | Anders Gärderud | Bronisław Malinowski | Julius Korir | Julius Kariuki | Matthew Birir | Joseph Keter | Reuben Kosgei | Ezekiel Kemboi