Background
Keller, Jack was born on October 23, 1911 in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Son of Edwin Louis and Mildred Elizabeth (Riedel) Keller.
Keller, Jack was born on October 23, 1911 in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Son of Edwin Louis and Mildred Elizabeth (Riedel) Keller.
Jack Keller studied at Ohio State University and succeeded sprinter George Simpson as the Ohio State Buckeyes" leading track and field star.
He then led Ohio State to a second-place finish in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships, winning both the 120 yard hurdles (146) and the 220 yard hurdles (238) in difficult conditions and tying for highest points scorer of the meet. However, due to wind assistance this time could not be ratified as a record. However, neither time was ratified as a world record.
His winning time equaled the world record for the metric hurdles.
Automatically timed as 14.53, it was the first hurdling record to have been automatically timed. The three Americans were clear favorites for the Olympics and were expected to sweep the medals.
At the Olympics in Los Angeles Keller easily advanced from the first two rounds, winning his heat in 14.9 and the first semi-final in 14.5, an Olympic record. He was originally thought to have held for third, but after reviews Britain"s Don Finlay was declared the bronze medalist, with Keller a close fourth.
Saling died in a car accident in April 1933, leaving Keller on top.
However, at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships he fell in his heat in the 120 yard hurdles and failed to qualify for the final. The knee gashes he suffered in that fall spoiled his performance in the 220 yard hurdles as well. Keller retired from hurdling after the 1933 season, although he attempted a brief comeback in 1936.
Member Olympian.; Member 1932 Olympic Track Team, high hurdles, world record holder 220 yd. low hurdles.
Married Claire Elizabeth Schrader, June 10, 1931. Children: John Jay, Patricia Mae.