Earl Johnson (runner)

Robert Earle "Earl" Johnson was an American athlete who competed mainly in the cross country team.

Achievements

He was the 1921 National Champion. He effectively defended his championship in 1922 as he was beaten by Ville Ritola's Van Cortlandt Park course record, but since Ritola was Finnish, Johnson was the first American finisher in the National Championships. A rare black athlete of his day, he worked for the Edgar Thomson Steel Works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Award

He competed for the United States in the 1924 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France in the cross-country team where he won the silver medal with his teammates Arthur Studenroth and August Fager. In the 10,000 m at the 1924 Summer Olympics, Johnson finished 8th in 32:17.0.

Personal life

Johnson was an adopted child; his aunt and uncle, Mary and Robert, adopted and brought him up in their Harrisonburg,va. home. As a child, he engaged in numerous sports activities.

Death

Later in life, he got a job as a sportswriter for The Pittsburgh Courier. He died at the Pittsburgh VA Hospital aged 74.