Rolland Romero
Romero at the 1936 Olympic Trials | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | August 21, 1914 Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. |
Died | November 25, 1975 (aged 61) Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. |
Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) |
Sport | |
Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | Triple jump, long jump |
Club | Loyola Wolfpack, New Orleans |
Achievements and titles | |
Personal best(s) | TJ – 15.36 m (1936) LJ – 7.56 m (1935)[1][2] |
Rolland Lee Romero (August 21, 1914 – November 25, 1975) was an American triple jumper. He was national champion in 1935 and competed in the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics.
Biography
Romero was born in Welsh, Louisiana on August 21, 1914.[1] At Welsh High School he played football and competed in a variety of track and field events.[3] From the fall of 1931 he attended Loyola University New Orleans, receiving an athletic scholarship midway through his freshman year; originally, the 120 yard hurdles were his main event, but he dropped it soon due to awkward falls and turned to the triple jump.[3]
Romero developed rapidly; his season best in 1932 was 49 ft 10+1⁄4 in (15.20 m), the best jump by an American since Dan Ahearn in 1913.[3][4] At the 1932 United States Olympic Trials he was second behind Sidney Bowman with a jump of 48 ft 10+1⁄4 in (14.89 m), qualifying for the Olympics in Los Angeles.[5]: 75 Romero placed eighth at the Olympics, reaching 14.85 m (48 ft 8+1⁄2 in) on his best jump; as a 17-year-old, he was the youngest athlete on the American track team.[1][3]
Romero scored his only national championship title at the 1935 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meet, jumping 50 ft 4+7⁄8 in (15.36 m) and breaking Ahearn's meeting record.[1][6] He set his personal best, 50 ft 8+3⁄4 in (15.46 m), in Houston on June 5, 1936.[7][8] Romero lost to newcomer Billy Brown at the 1936 AAU meet, but won with 49 ft 9 in (15.16 m) at the Olympic Trials the following week.[5]: 83–84 He qualified for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, where he jumped 15.08 m (49 ft 5+1⁄2 in) and placed fifth; he was the best of the Americans.[5]: 84
Romero died on November 25, 1975.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d "Rolland Romero Bio, Stats and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ Rolland Romero. trackfield.brinkster.net
- ^ a b c d e "Rolland Romero". Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ "Men, Triple Jump: All Years". Track and Field Statistics. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ a b c Hymans, Richard (2008). "The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field" (PDF). USA Track & Field. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ^ Mallon, Bill; Buchanan, Ian; Track & Field News. "History of US Nationals Results: Triple Jump – Men". Track & Field News. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ "Rolland Romero". Track and Field Statistics. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ "Wallender Betters Olympic 200-Meter Mark". Abilene Morning Reporter-News. June 7, 1936. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- v
- t
- e
Amateur Athletic Union
- 1893: Edward Bloss
- 1894-1908: Not held
- 1909: Frank Irons
- 1910–11: Dan Ahearn
- 1912: Platt Adams
- 1913–18: Dan Ahearn
- 1919-20: Sherman Landers
- 1921: Kaufman Geist
- 1922-23: DeHart Hubbard
- 1924-25: Homer Martin
- 1926-28: Levi Casey
- 1929: Robert Kelley
- 1930: Levi Casey
- 1931: Robert Kelley
- 1932: Sidney Bowman
- 1933: Nathan Blair
- 1934: Dudley Wilkins
- 1935: Rolland Romero
- 1936–37: Billy Brown
- 1938–39: Herschel Neil
- 1940–43: Billy Brown
- 1944: Don Barksdale
- 1945: Burton Cox
- 1946: Ralph Tate
- 1947: Bob Beckus
- 1948–51: Gay Bryan
- 1952: Walter Ashbaugh
- 1953: George Shaw
- 1954: Claudio Cabreja (CUB) * Pat Lochiatto
- 1955: Victor Hernandez (CUB) *Bill Sharpe
- 1956: Willie Hollie
- 1957: Bill Sharpe
- 1958–60: Ira Davis
- 1961–62: Bill Sharpe
- 1963: Kent Floerke
- 1964: Christos Mousiadis (GRE) * Ira Davis
- 1965–66: Art Walker
- 1967: Charles Craig
- 1968: Art Walker
- 1969: John Craft
- 1970: Milan Tiff
- 1971–74: John Craft
- 1975: Anthony Terry
- 1976: Tommy Haynes
- 1977: Milan Tiff
- 1978: James Butts
- 1979: Ron Livers
The Athletics Congress
- 1980–81: Willie Banks
- 1982: Robert Cannon
- 1983: Willie Banks
- 1984: Al Joyner
- 1985: Willie Banks
- 1986: Charlie Simpkins
- 1987–89: Mike Conley
- 1990–91: Kenny Harrison
- 1992: Charlie Simpkins
USA Track & Field
- 1993–95: Mike Conley
- 1996–97: Kenny Harrison
- 1998–99: LaMark Carter
- 2000: Robert Howard
- 2001: LaMark Carter
- 2002: Walter Davis
- 2003: Kenta Bell
- 2004: Melvin Lister
- 2005–06: Walter Davis
- 2007–08: Aarik Wilson
- 2009: Brandon Roulhac
- 2010: Kenta Bell
- 2011–12: Christian Taylor
- 2013: Omar Craddock
- 2014: Will Claye
- 2015: Omar Craddock
- 2016-7: Will Claye
- 2018–19: Donald Scott
- 20212020 OT: Will Claye
- 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.