John W. Nelson (2003) - Hall of Fame - Macalester College Athletics

Hall of Fame

John W. Nelson

Class

1968
Induction

2003
Sport(s)

Football, Basketball, Track

As a freshman at Macalester, John Nelson was a three-sport athlete but from his sophomore through senior years focused his athletic attention entirely on track and field, and it was in this sport that he made a significant impact at Macalester.

At the MIAC championships from 1966-68, John was second in total individual points only to recently-elected Hall of Fame track legend Walt Kress. John won the MIAC 440-yard dash championship as a sophomore and was third in the conference in the 220. He was also a member of the record-setting mile relay team.

Then as a junior, John set a school and conference record in the 440 (in a retired school-record 48.3 time) while running on another record-setting mile relay team. He was also third in the 220 again. John finished his athletic career at Macalester as a member of several team and conference record-setting relay teams, including the 440, 880, sprint and mile. He was a member of the school and conference record-setting 1600-yard relay – a record that still stands nearly 35 years later.

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