Donald Paul BOWDEN

Don Bowden is best known as the first American to run a mile under four minutes, which he did in 1957, clocking 3:58.7 at the Pacific Association AAU Meet. In 1958 he ran on a U Cal Berkeley 4x880 yard relay team which broke the world record, although the mark was inferior to the 4x800 m record. Bowden was NCAA 800 champion in 1957, helping Cal finish second in the team race. He was also fourth in the mile that year at NCAAs. Bowden was Pacific Coast Conference Champion in the 880 yds in 1957 and the mile in 1958. He was later inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. Bowden worked for many years with Allied Chemical and helped to develop and promote the Tartan track, the first artificial running surface.

Personal Bests: 400 – 47.9 (1957); 880y – 1:47.2 (1957); 1500 – 3:46.5 (1957); Mile – 3:58.7 (1957).