by John Gardner
based off John Gurda’s book The West End

In 1934, right here at the Marquette High track and soccer field, Marquette’s Ralph Metcalfe, right, beat future 1936 Olympics four gold medalist and Ohio State star Jesse Owens, left.

They met again at Marquette’s field in 1936 in Olympics qualification heats. Metcalfe continued to best Owens by decreasing fractions of a second until their last qualifying races, when Owens finally pulled ahead – again, by fractions of a second.

That year’s Olympics were hosted by Germany in Berlin. Adolf Hitler was anxious to show the world not only Germany’s post World War I recovery, but also the superiority of Germany’s debatably Aryan population.

The 4 X 4 mile relay race was one of the Olympics’ premier events. Hitler and Germany were especially proud of its world-class, undefeated team in the event.
The race was razor-close from starting gun to final tape; but the USA team carried the day. Its two fastest stars, Marquette’s Ralph Metcalfe (second from left) and Owen’s (far left) didn’t exactly fit the Nazi heroes’ profile. Possibly for that reason, Hitler did not show up, as previously scheduled, at the final awards ceremony.

Metcalfe went on to a distinguished legal and political career. As South Side Chicago Congressman, and co-founder of The Congressional Black Caucus, he led some of the nation’s most influential early civil rights legislation.

Owens became a public representative for a number of companies and organizations. They remained lifelong friends.