Arthur Roth

For the American banker, see Arthur T. Roth.

Arthur Vincent Roth (December 4, 1891 – October 10, 1950)[nb 1] was an American long-distance runner who won the 1916 Boston Marathon and competed in the men's marathon at the 1920 Summer Olympics.[4]

Roth was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts.[5] In 1912 and 1913, he competed primarily in 10-mile road races.[5] Roth competed in the 1913 New York Evening Mail Modified Marathon and placed 31st out of 1,500 runners.[5]

In 1914, he finished fifth at the Boston Marathon and was reported to have been from Roxbury, Massachusetts.[6][7] Representing the Mohawk Athletic Club, he won a five-mile race put on the Bronxdale Athletic Club in February 1915 (27:04).[8] Three months later in May 1915, Roth finished fifth in a ten-mile contest through the streets of Jersey City and Hoboken that was sponsored by The Jersey Journal.[9]

By 1916, Roth was reported to be a "tracer in an architect's office".[5] On February 22 of that year, he won a 25-mile-marathon in Brooklyn, New York, in a time of 2:48:40.[10] Representing the Dorchester Club at the 1916 Boston Marathon two months later, Roth became the first Boston resident to win the event.[5] He was given a silver punch bowl for his victory.[11] The bowl was eventually loaned to the Boston Athletic Association after a BAA intern observed it being used to hold beer cans at a party.[11]

In February 1917, Roth finished third in a 25-mile race in Brooklyn, New York (2:43:35).[12] Later that year, he finished fourth in a 25.5 mile race in Brockton, Massachusetts.[12]

The 1920 Boston Marathon served as one of the selection races for the United States Olympic Team at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.[13] Roth, this time competing for the St. Alphonsus Association, secured a spot on the team by finishing second to Panayotis "Peter" Trivoulidas of Greece in a time of 2:30:31.[13][14][15] At the Olympic marathon on August 22, he lined-up with competitors from 17 nations, but failed to finish the race after dropping out 14.5 miles into the race.[13][16]

On October 11, 1950, Roth died at his home in Natick, Massachusetts.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Although www.sportsreference.com indicates Roth's birthdate as December 4, 1891,[1] the Association of Road Racing Statisticians notes it as May 10, 1892.[2] The Boston Daily Globe reported that he died on October 10, 1950, at the age of 59.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Arthur Roth". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  2. ^ "Boston Marathon". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. August 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Arthur V. Roth". Daily Boston Globe. October 11, 1950. p. 32. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Arthur Roth". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e "ROTH OF DORCHESTER WINS THE MARATHON: Kyronen on His Heels Second, Hatch Third, Corkery Fourth Field in the B.A.A. Classic Cheered by an Enormous Crowd---Time 2h 27m 16 2-5s". The Boston Globe. April 20, 1916. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  6. ^ "Boston Marathon Won By Canadian: First American Crosses The Tape Three Minutes After Winner". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. April 21, 1914. p. 13. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  7. ^ "World Marathon Rankings for 1914". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. August 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  8. ^ "Arthur Roth Easy Victor" (PDF). The New York Times. New York. February 8, 1915. Retrieved October 7, 2011.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Cop Motor Cyclist Puts Honohan Out: N.Y.A.C. Man Leading When Accident Happened - Gianakopulos Wins Jersey Race" (PDF). The New York Times. May 16, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.[dead link‍]
  10. ^ "World Marathon Rankings for 1916". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. August 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Cassidy, Maggie (April 16, 2010). "The curator of the Boston Marathon: Ratti always on watch for some treasure troves". Boston.com. Globe Newspaper Company. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "World Marathon Rankings for 1917". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. August 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c USA Track & Field (2004). "2004 USA Olympic Team Trials: Men's Marathon Media Guide Supplement" (PDF). Santa Barbara, California: USA Track & Field. pp. 7, 12. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  14. ^ "World Marathon Rankings for 1920". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. August 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  15. ^ "FAST TIRING BUT GAME-TO-THE-CORE ARTHUR V. ROTH, WITH VICTORY NEAR, OVERTAKEN BY SPEEDING SPARTAN, FINISHES SECOND--TIME 2:29:31: Henigan Blazes Dizzy Trail For 17 Long Miles, Then Has To Give Up Battle: Linder, 1919 Winner, Third, Wick Fourth--Record Crowd Sees Wonderful Struggle". The Boston Globe. April 20, 1920. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  16. ^ "Kolehmainen, Finn Marvel, Winner of Marathon Race: Olympic Star of 1912 Established New Record for 26 Mile Course - Esthonian Runner Presses Finn Hard - Joe Organ, First American to Finish, Comes in Seventh - American Relay Team Hangs Up New Record". The Lewiston Daily Sun. AP. August 23, 1920. p. 6. Retrieved October 7, 2011.