Ernie Shelton question(s).

[lovetorun]

I will always remember Ernie Shelton running out of the L.A. Coliseum after failing to clear 6-9 and thus was not going to make the 1956 Olympic team. I hope some historian (Per?), or statistician (gh?) can remind me of Shelton's PR and what his record was in big meets in the 50's.

[mrbowie]

2.115

[dj]

Washington HS (Los Angeles, Ca) 51
USC 52-55

1951: 3=)AAU (6-4), 2)AAU Jr (6-5), 2=)CaHS State (<6-5 3/8)
1952:
1953: 2=)AAU (6-7 1/2), 4)NCAA (6-7)
1954: 1)AAU (6-9 3/4), 1)NCAA (6-10 1/4)
1955: 1)AAU (6-10), 1)NCAA (6-11 MR)
1956: 5)USOT (6-8 1/2), 2=)AAU 6-8 1/2)
1957: 2=)AAU (6-9)
1958: 6=)AAU (6-6)

[lovetorun]

Thanks, that answers my questions. No wonder he was dissapointed in 1956...after having a great year in 1955, I'm sure his expectations for the OG year were frusrrated. Wish he could have progressed to 7 foot jumping and joined Dumas in Melbourne as the favorites.

[Per Andersen]

Thanks, that answers my questions. No wonder he was dissapointed in 1956...after having a great year in 1955, I'm sure his expectations for the OG year were frusrrated. Wish he could have progressed to 7 foot jumping and joined Dumas in Melbourne as the favorites.

In 1956 he was no longer the jumper he had been in '54 and '55 when he was the best HJer in the world.
For two straight summers in Scandinavia he went at it against his greatest rival, the Swede Bengt Nilsson. They both won their share and both had WR attempts although Shelton gradually got the upper hand.
Quercetani suggested that maybe this intensity level took too much out of them.

Anyway, by 1956 Shelton was out of USC and in the Army and Nilsson battled injuries and quit soon after at only age 23.
Shelton showed up in Europe with a built up shoe in the late summer of '57 but he was basically done.
They were both great but starting with Dumas the sport moved to another level.

[tc]

Shelton's HS best in 1951 was 6-5 1/8 at his league meet. He also jumped 6-5 at a dual meet and 6-3 at the State Meet. He jumped 5-10 in 1949 and 6-4 in 1950. Older brother Warren jumped 6-4 1/4 in 1948.

[jhc68]

Here's the major esoterica (for which I have not the slightest clue of an answer)... How many times did Shelton make official attempts at the seven-foot barrier? And how close did he come?

[lovetorun]

Here's the major esoterica (for which I have not the slightest clue of an answer)... How many times did Shelton make official attempts at the seven-foot barrier? And how close did he come?

Interesting question...Per or Richard Hymas need to tackle this one...