Howard P. Drew

World's Fastest Human

By USC Athletics Black History Month

February 3^rd, 2015

A Legend Is Born

A happy and confident teenager, Howard Drew went to the 1905 Fourth of July ‘Springfield City Game’ to showcase his talents in the yearly track and field competition. Due to his lack of money, he fashioned his uniform from his mother’s bed sheets and created his spikes by driving nails through the soles of tennis shoes. He won the 100-yard dash, but decided to ditch his shoes due to the pain. He went on to run – and win – the 440-yard dash in his bare feet! After the race, Drew said, “I went home with sore feet, but very proud of my two medals.”

Road to the 1912 Olympics

The University of Michigan hosted the U.S. Olympic Trials. Drew showed up and surprised everyone. He upset the nation’s fastest sprinter, Ralph Craig, and won the 100-yard dash by tying the World Record! Drew headed to the Olympics with gold on his mind. He breezed through the quarterfinals in the 100. Running down the track in his semifinal, he pulled his hamstring, but still won the race despite jogging the last portion of it. Injured and devastated, Drew sat on the sidelines and watched Craig win the gold medal that he knew he was meant for him.

USC

Drew was a standout as a Trojan. He earned the title ‘World’s Fastest Human’ as he tied or set every World Record from 30 to 250 yards. His record in the 100-yard dash of 9.6 seconds set in 1914 stood for more than 15 years before being broken. Drew also made sure to have his academics match his athletics. He was a “straight-A” student and a journalist for the school newspaper.

And Beyond

Drew continued to be a pioneer off the track. Upon coming home from World War I, Drew was honorably discharged in 1919, received a victory medal and one defensive bar for his service. He passed the bar in Connecticut a year later and became one of only four black attorneys in the state. Later, he became the first black judge in Connecticut. He would continue to fight for civil rights until he passed in 1957.

Information compiled by Jessica Onyepunuka from:
- Publication “Howard Porter Drew: Record Breaker- Rule Maker” (2006), USC Black Alumni Association
- Coach Larry Libow*, “Howard P. Drew – The Original ‘World’s Fastest Human’”
- Photos courtesy of howarddrew.com

*Coach Larry was on the Board of Governors of USATF-New England, is a USATF Level 2 Coach, is a USATF Coaches Registry Approved Coach, was USA Track & Field 2011 Northeast Zone Youth Coach of the Year, has been a volunteer track coach for the High School of Commerce in Springfield and the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s Y-Speed Track Club. Coach Larry is a Masters Track athlete, founded the Mass Velocity Track Club and is the Managing Director of the Massachusetts Senior Games.