Harold William Manning (January 9, 1909 – January 26, 2003) was an Americanlong-distance runner. He held theAmerican record in the men's3000-meter steeplechase from 1934 to 1952 and briefly held theworld best in 1936. He represented the United States in the steeplechase at the1936 Summer Olympics, placing fifth.
Manning was born inSedgwick, Kansas on January 9, 1909.[1] He took up running as a schoolboy; in 1927, hissenior year at Sedgwick High School, he won themile run at both the Kansas state meet and the national interscholastic meet in Chicago.[2][3] After graduating from high school Manning went toWichita University on anathletic scholarship.[2]
In 1929 Manning placed second in thetwo-mile run at theNCAA championships; he led for most of the way, but lost a close final lap duel against defending champion Dave Abbott of Illinois.[4]: 5 [5] At that year'sUnited States outdoor championships, organized by theAmateur Athletic Union (AAU), Manning placed third in the mile.[6] Manning won the two miles at the1930 NCAA meet, becoming Wichita University's first national champion; his winning time, 9:18.1, broke Abbott's meeting record from 1928 and missedTell Berna'scollegiate record from 1912 by only three-tenths of a second.[2][7] Manning graduated from Wichita University in 1931.[2]
Manning attempted to qualify for the1932 Summer Olympics inLos Angeles in the 3000-meter steeplechase; he won at the Midwestern Tryouts in 9:20.1, then his personal best.[6][8] He entered thefinal United States Olympic Trials as one of the favorites to make theAmerican team, but failed to replicate his earlier form; he placed fifth in 9:35.0e, missing third place and the final Olympic spot by approximately eighty yards.[9][10]: 72
Manning won his first AAU championship title in the steeplechase in 1934, outkicking defending championJoe McCluskey in 9:13.1; he broke McCluskey'sAmerican record of 9:14.5 from the 1932 Olympic Trials.[11][12] At the 1935 AAU championships Manning placed second behind McCluskey, but he regained the title in 1936.[11]
The1936 United States Olympic Trials were held atRandall's Island Stadium inNew York City on July 11 and July 12, a week after the 1936 AAU championships.[10]: 4 Closing with a fast sprint, Manning won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:08.2, qualifying for the Olympic Games; his time brokeVolmari Iso-Hollo's world mark of 9:09.4 from 1933.[10]: 81 [13]: 110 In his record run Manning hurdled the water jumps without touching the barriers, then a new technique.[2][14] The warm conditions at the Trials (which were held during the1936 North American heat wave) were not conducive to setting records in long-distance races; interviewed after the race, Manning noted he was used to hot weather.[10]: 79, 81 [15]: 6–7 TheInternational Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) did not ratify world records in the steeplechase before 1954, so Manning's time was only aworld best; it was officially ratified as an American record but not as a world record.[10]: 81 [13]: 109–110
Manning's record made him one of the favorites for the1936 Summer Olympics inBerlin, although Iso-Hollo, who was the defending Olympic champion, was still expected to take the gold again.[16] Manning's chances were damaged when he fell ill en route to the Olympics and recovered slowly.[17][18] In Berlin he placed second behind Iso-Hollo in his heat; in thefinal he stayed in medal contention for most of the way but was outkicked at the end and placed fifth in 9:11.2.[1][19] Iso-Hollo, who won in 9:03.8, regained the world best; the other medalists (Kaarlo Tuominen andAlfred Dompert) also broke Manning's Trials mark.[19]
Manning's American record lasted until 1952, whenHorace Ashenfelter ran 9:06.4 at the U.S. Olympic Trials.[10]: 99 Manning died inWichita, Kansas on January 26, 2003.[1] He was inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1980, and was posthumously named to theKansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame.[20]
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Men's 3000-meter steeplechase world best holder July 12, 1936 – August 8, 1936 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Men's 3000-meter steeplechase United States record holder June 30, 1934 – June 28, 1952 | Succeeded by |
