Ollie Matson (Washington High School 1948, University of San Francisco 1952)

I met Ollie Matson a few years ago on the Berkeley Marina. He was wearing a cap that said Atlanta 1996. I asked him if he had attended the Olympic Games. He responded: "I ran in the Olympic Games."

So started a one hour conversation.

As a senior at Washington High School in San Francisco, Matson set a national 440 yard high school record (as recognized by Track & Field News) of 47.1n at the Pacific AAU meet in Berkeley on June 5, 1948. There is a picture in the June 6, 1948 San Francisco Chronicle, showing Herb McKenley winning the race down the east side of Edwards Stadium in the world record time of 46.0. You can see Matson in the background.

World Records
440 Yards
46.0y Herb McKenley (JAM) Berkeley 05.06.1948
Pacific AAU, Edwards Field, 15 Hr: 1. McKenley 46.0 (all 3 watches 46.0), 2. Ollie Matson 47.1, 3. Larry Hoff 47.9, 4. Inman 49.0. Halves: 21.0y and 25.0y.
Source: IAAF PROGRESSION OF WORLD BEST PERFORMANCES AND OFFICIAL WORLD RECORDS.

Matson placed third in the 1952 Olympic Games 400 meters in 46.94.