Ned Alvin Merriam (October 26, 1884 – July 9, 1956) was an American track athlete, college football player, and coach of track and football.[1]
Merriam attended the University of Chicago, where he starred in football and track between 1905 and 1908. He was a member of the American track and field team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. In the 400 metres, Merriam won his preliminary heat with a time of 52.2 seconds. He advanced to the semifinals, where he finished third in his heat to be eliminated from further competition—the only 400-meter race he ever lost.
In 2011, Merriam was inducted into the University of Chicago Athletics Hall of Fame. His plaque states that he was a three-time Big 10 champion in the 440-yard dash and a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, serving as head track and field coach from 1929 to 1949.[2]
