Hall of Fame Inductee: Harry Nash

Editor's Note: Here's our final installment in our profile series of the 2010 Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame inductees.

Harry Nash

Nash's stellar sprinting career began in mythical fashion -- in his first 100-yard race he clocked a 10-flat and broke the Wheaton High school record. From that auspicious beginning, Nash went on to compete in three-straight MSHSL State Meets, culminating his prep career in 1951 with 100-yard dash victory and a runner-up finish at 220-yards.

Nash (pictured) attended the University of Minnesota where he got his college career started on the right foot by setting a freshman school record in the 100y with a 9.8 and leading the team in the 220y with a 21.8 clocking.

The four-time letter-winner at the U, Nash never placed worse than fourth at the Big Ten outdoor championships -- finishing 3rd (100y) and runner-up (220y) in 1953 as a sophomore, 2nd (100y) and 4th (220y) as a junior in 1954, and 2nd (100y) and 3rd (220y) as a senior in 1955.

Nash had the tough luck of racing in the Big Ten at the same time Northwestern's Jim Golliday ruled the sprinting world. Golliday set the world record for 100y at the 1955 Big Ten meet with a 9.3.

Nash ran 9.4 five times in his career.

Perhaps the best sprinter ever to don the maroon and gold, Nash graduated from Minnesota holding the school 100y (9.4) and 220y (21.1) records. He led the Gopher 440 relay team to a Drake Relays title (and school record 41.3) in 1955 and placed 4th in the 100y at the NCAA Championships later than year.

Find the profiles of all of the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees HERE.

Photo by Charlie Mahler.