Johnny Kelley Marathon Runner 10 Mile Run Trophy

[stone193]

Johnny Kelley (1907 - 2004)

1931 National AAU Championship 10 mile Run trophy is from the estate of legendary American marathon runner and Runner's World Magazine's "Runner of the Century" John Adelbert "Johnny" Kelley - winner of 2 Boston Marathons and the record holder for most 2nd place finishes in the Boston Marathon (7), most top 5 finishes (15 in 17 yrs from 1934 to 1950) and most Boston Marathons participated with 61.

The trophy is over 22" tall:



It has incredible detail with a bakelite base and cool Greco-Roman images around the top:



Kelley was an American long distance runner who twice represented the US in the 1936 and 1948 Summer Olympics. He was born in West Medford, MA, as one of 10 children. With a record 61 Boston Marathons, he won it in 1935 and 1945 and came in 2nd seven times. He ran his last run in Boston in 1992 at the age of 84!



In the 1936 Olympics, he finished 18th. Again, he was named Runner of the Century by Runner's World Magazine in 2000.

His first win of the Boston marathon in 1935:



Kelley in the 1941 Marathon:



A statue "tribute" to Kelley is on the marathon course:




Side note - none of Kelley's awards are engraved with his name - back in the day, the associations made it the responsibility of the winner of the trophy to foot the bill to have it engraved. I'm guessing Johnny "knew" his own name and opted out.
Furthermore, in 1950, he became the first road runner elected to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

The HOF happens to be in the neighborhood where I attended Columbia U. - I never visited it.

His record:

Championships

1936 Olympics: marathon (18th)
1948 Olympics: marathon (21st)
1937 AAU: 15,000 m (1st)
1937 AAU: 25,000 m (1st)
1941 AAU: 25,000 m (1st)
1942 AAU: 25,000 m (1st)
1943 AAU: 20,000 m (1st)
1943 AAU: 25,000 m (1st)
1944 AAU: 25,000 m (1st)
1948 AAU: marathon (1st)
1950 AAU: marathon (1st)
1954 AAU: 15,000 m (1st)
1954 AAU: 20,000 m (1st)

Thanx for viewing.

[CarltonHendricks]

Stone, Nice Kelly trophy...is that a recent acquisition?....A while back a friend of mine Tom Cardaropoli was auctioning two other Kelly trophies...I featured them on my home page SportsAntiques.com...they're still up if you'd like to see them. -Carlton

[stone193]

Hi Carlton

Thanx. Also for the link - will take a look.

Yes, got it from ebayer - Walnutts - recently. They auctioned off about 4 of them - most went for more than I wanted to pay. The nicest was an actual Boston Marathon trophy that went for 1700 bucks.

Happy Thanksgiving.