Frank Thayer NELSON

In 1909 Frank Nelson and Charles Campbell of Yale tied for first place at 12-4 (3.76) in the dual meet with Harvard and were the top-ranked vaulters in the world that year. Nelson lost to Campbell at the 1909 IC4A but he won the title in 1910 when he beat yet another fine Yale vaulter, Robert Gardner, who went on to set a world record in 1912 as well as win the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship three times. Gardner failed to make the Olympic team but the first three places in Stockholm still went to the Ivy League. Harry Babcock (Columbia) took the gold medal, and Marc Wright (Dartmouth) and Frank Nelson tied for second.

Nelson also competed in the 1912 Olympic Baseball demonstration event.

Personal Best: PV – 12-7½ (3.85) (1912).