University of Minnesota Athletics
Fred O. Watson
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
| Fred O. Watson Class of 2005 Cross Country Track & Field 1913-16 |
Fred Watson was the first dominant long distance runner in the history of the U of M. He was the first Minnesota and Big Nine Conference runner to capture the league individual cross country championship in three consecutive years from 1913 to 1915. That mark held for 56 years until tied by another Minnesotan and Hall of Fame member, Garry Bjorklund. Watson won every cross country race in which he competed and lowered the league record each year, finishing with a time of 25:42:2 in 1915. In 1914, his strong running and leadership as captain helped Minnesota capture its second Big Nine Championship. Fred Watson remains in elite company as one of only four U of M athletes to win a conference Cross Country Championship. During his tenure he set a number of U of M and conference track records in the mile and two mile events, one of which lasted for 30 years.
In 2002, Watson was inducted into the USATF Minnesota Track & Field Hall of Fame. The U of M honors its most valuable men’s cross country runner with the Fred O. Watson award. He was the president and founder of Watson General Contractors, and was one of the founders of the "M" Club. Fred Watson passed away in 1965.
M Club Hall of Fame
