Lester Carney

(Redirected from Les Carney)

Lester Nelson "Les" Carney (born March 31, 1934) is a retired American sprinter who won a silver medal in the 200 m at the 1960 Summer Olympics, ahead of two team members who beat him at the Olympic trials. He won another silver in this event at the 1959 Pan American Games.[1][2]

Les Carney
Lester Carney (left) at the 1960 Olympics
Personal information
Full nameLester Nelson Carney
BornMarch 31, 1934 (1934-03-31) (age 90)
Bellaire, Ohio, U.S.
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventSprint
ClubAkron Track Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)100 yd – 9.6 (1959)
100 m – 10.3 (1956)
200 m – 20.69 (1960)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1960 Rome 200 m
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1959 Chicago 200 m

Carney also played American football at Ohio University. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1958 but never played professionally. After retiring from sports he worked as a buyer of sporting goods for the M. O'Neil Co. department store chain in Akron, Ohio.[1]

On October 2, 2015, Indian Creek High School (formerly known as Wintersville High School) in Wintersville, Ohio, named its new track and field after the Olympic silver medalist. The field is now the Lester Carney Track at Kettlewell Stadium.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Les Carney". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  2. ^ Ulrich, Nate (July 25, 2024). "90-year-old ex-Olympian remains an inspiration". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Staff (October 4, 2015). "Dedication". Herald-Star. Retrieved July 29, 2024.