RIP Roscoe Lee Browne

[coagie]

Re:

IMDB is claiming "Set a world's record in 1951 at Paris for the 800-meter run."

Doesn't look too likely. Here's the WR progression:

1' 44" 3 Peter Snell, NZL, 02 Feb 62, Christchurch
1' 45" 7 Roger Moens, BEL, 03 Aug 55, Oslo
1' 46" 6 Rudolf Harbig, GER, 15 Jun 39, Milano
1' 48" 4 Sydney Wooderson, GBR, 20 Aug 38, Motspur Park
http://www.athletix.org/statistics/wr800men.htm

His PR appears to have been 1.49.3 from Colombes (Jul 8, 1951)
(Found this at http://trackfield.brinkster.net/)


Yahoo Movies is claiming "Concurrent with teaching, Browne won two American indoor championships in track and the 1951 world championship in the 800 yard dash."

So many ways that last sentence is wrong...

He was definitely ranked #2 in the world behind Arthur Wint in 1951 by TFN (http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/rankin ... anking.pdf)

And he did win the two indoor titles (1950, 1951) over 1000y
http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champio ... /m800m.asp

Actually, he ran the fastest 800 meters in the world in 1951, at 1:49.3. It was not, as you've pointed out, a historical world record, but it was a "world record" for 1951, so, I guess, it's sort of correct to say it was a record. He was quite an impressive runner, and injuries kept him from the Olympics. Anyway he was a "track star", before he was a movie star, winning indoor races in Madison Square Garden, and winning events on tour in Europe. He spoke fluent French and had college degrees, so his track stardom, got him a job with a wine import/export company (his fastest 1951 800 meter time was run in France). He didn't become a professional actor, until he was 35.
Anyway, thought I'd clear this up, because some of the articles and obituaries on Roscoe Lee Browne are not clear about his track days, some even calling the race "800 yards" instead of 800 meters. He was also a World War Two veteran, who served in Italy. Impressive guy, really. I read a comment on a forum, from a patron of the bar that Roscoe frequented, and he indicated, that Roscoe was a down to earth, regular guy. A very humble man for an star athlete, who was also a star actor.

[gh]

Re: RIP Roscoe Lee Browne

not quite true. Track statisticians recoginize the fastest 2-lapper in the world for '51 as Arthur Wint, who ran 1:49.6 for 880y, which is worth 1:48.9 for 800 meters, 0.4 faster than Browne's 1:49.3.

[Jackaloupe]

Re: RIP Roscoe Lee Browne

it was a Grand Street Boys team, and Browne wasn't a part of it. It was Andy Stanfield who ran with Rhoden, McKenley, and Whitfield

That's right, and RB was Pioneer all the way. Great recall from all those MSG days: Sound "bites", tight turns and all. Glad someone followed Mel Barnwell from Boys High to Pitt, where I'd lost his trail; Arnie Sowell was the smooth Pitt 880 runner who doubtless met RB many times, as did OlyChamp, Fordham's Tom Courtney.

All those GSBs save Whitfield showed up at an exhibition 300 yds. during Milt Campbell's first National Decathlon Championship at his homefield, Plainfield, NJ, in 1953. Perfect matchup of 200m Champ w/ the two best 400m runners of the time (Wint was better suited to 800m)
[A composite statue of the three original Jamaican greats graces the entry to the Jamaican National Stadium!]

[dj]

Re: RIP Roscoe Lee Browne

[A composite statue of the three original Jamaican greats graces the entry to the Jamaican National Stadium!]

The aluminum statue is really a composite of the four runners from the Jamaican 1952 4x4 gold medal team: McKenley, Rhoden and Wint as well as Les Laing.

[CookyMonzta]

Re:

From the 1962 AAU program I found out that his winning time in the 1951 1000 was 2:14:0. It only gives the winners from 1951 to 1961.

His winning time in 1950 was 2:15.6.

Did he ever hold the indoor WR for 1,000y?

[dj]

Re: Re:

From the 1962 AAU program I found out that his winning time in the 1951 1000 was 2:14:0. It only gives the winners from 1951 to 1961.

His winning time in 1950 was 2:15.6.

Did he ever hold the indoor WR for 1,000y?

No. You might be thinking of John Borican (2:08.8 in '39) or Arnie Sowell (2:08.2 in '55). The one WR in between was set by Don Germann (2:08.2 in '52).

[kuha]

Re: Re:

John Borican (2:08.8 in '39)

I'm surprised to be reminded that the record was that good that early.

[tandfman]

Re: Re:

Actually, he ran the fastest 800 meters in the world in 1951, at 1:49.3. It was not, as you've pointed out, a historical world record, but it was a "world record" for 1951, so, I guess, it's sort of correct to say it was a record.

No, it's not.