Fred Sowerby (Frederick Oliver Newgent Sowerby; born December 11, 1948) is a track and field athlete from Antigua and Barbuda, known primarily for running the 400 metres.

Fred Sowerby
Personal information
NationalityAntiguan
Born (1948-12-11) 11 December 1948 (age 75)
Plymouth, Montserrat
Sport
SportSprinting
Event400 metres
Medal record
Representing Americas
IAAF World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 1977 Düsseldorf 4 x 400 m relay

Biography

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At the 1976 Summer Olympics, he was eliminated by finishing seventh in the quarterfinals while running more than two seconds slower than his personal best of 45.6, set earlier that year. He also anchored his team, finishing last in their qualifying round.[1] Sowerby still holds the Antiguan and Barbudan national records in the 400 metres, and 400 metres hurdles. Sowerby became the first ever flag bearer for Antigua and Barbuda when he carried the flag in the 1976 opening ceremony.[2]

Sowerby is also a three-time champion in the now defunct 600 yard dash at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.[3] Sowerby is a 1973 graduate of Murray State University, where he was elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.[4]

Sowerby, had a successful career as head track and field coach of Delaware State University, receiving several Coach of the year awards. He then relocated to his alma mater, Murray State University, where he coached the track teams to several victories until 1993.

After moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was an assistant coach for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas,[5] Sowerby has continued to run in Masters athletics wearing the United States uniform, setting the World Masters Athletics World Record in the M45 and M50 age divisions in 1994 and 1999 respectively.[6][7] Sowerby also still holds the World M45 Record for the Indoor 400, set in 1994.[8]

Sowerby currently is retired from collegiate athletics although he coaches track and is a substitute teacher at Hopkinsville High School and lives in Hopkinsville, Kentucky with his wife, Carolyn. He has six children: Brian, Vaedra, Fred, Jr., LaTonya, Terrance, and Stephon.

References

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  1. ^ "Fred Sowerby Biography and Olympic Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2010-07-31. Sports Reference
  2. ^ "Flagbearers for Antigua and Barbuda". olympedia.org. OlyMADMen. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ "USA Track & Field - USA Indoor Track & Field Champions". Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
  4. ^ http://goracers.com/sports/2009/7/23/218299508.aspx Murray State Hall of Fame
  5. ^ http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1997/Mar-15-Sat-1997/sports/5037665.html Las Vegas Review Journal
  6. ^ http://www.mastersathletics.net/fileadmin/html/Rankings/All_Time/400metresmen.htm Archived 2008-12-28 at the Wayback Machine Masters Athletics
  7. ^ "Records Outdoor Men". Archived from the original on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2012-08-03. Masters World Records retrieved July 30, 2010
  8. ^ "Records Indoor Men". Archived from the original on 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2010-07-31. WMA Indoor Records
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