Ira Nelson DAVENPORT

Before turning to the two-lap event, Ira Davenport ran 48.8 for 440y in 1910 which was the fastest time recorded in the world that year Having graduated from the University of Chicago, he ran the 800 m at the 1912 Olympics and, using his basic speed to good effect, closed rapidly on the leaders in the finals stages and failed to take the gold medal by less than one meter. While at Chicago, Davenport played football from 1909 to 1911 and later became a football coach at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He spent most of his life as the general manager of the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works.

Davenport also competed in the 1912 Olympic Baseball demonstration event.

Personal Bests: 440y – 48.5 (1912); 800 – 1:52.0 (1912).