James Carlton (athlete)
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James (Jim) Andrew Carlton (10 February 1909 - 4 April 1951) is a former Australian Olympic athlete who competed in sprint events.
Carlton won three successive national championship sprint doubles in 1928, 1930 and 1932 when the championships were only held every two years. He competed in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam but was run out in the quarter-finals, his form affected by illness. Though selected for the 1930 British Empire Games, Carlton did not run[1].
In 1931 Carlton equalled Eddie Tolan's world record for 100 yards of 9.4 but the record was disallowed as the time had only been taken on two stop watches[2]. His 9.6 national record, set in 1930, stood for twenty-three years.
His 20.6 run to win the 1932 220 yards national championship created a sensation, smashing the world record, and was controversially judged as wind assisted. Carlton's decision to retire and become a priest rather than competing at the 1932 Olympics also created controversy[3]
Carlton's son Mike is a well-known Sydney radio broadcaster.
[edit] Statistics
Personal Bests[4]
| Event | Performance | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100y | 9.6 | Sydney, Australia | 27 December 1930 |
| 100 m | 10.5 | Sydney, Australia | January 1932 |
| 220y | 20.6 | Sydney, Australia | 18 January 1932 |
| 440y | 48.4 | Sydney, Australia | 12 December 1931 |
