Harold Davis (sprinter)

Harold Davis (born January 5, 1921, in Salinas, California, died August 12, 2007) was an American Track and Field athlete.

[2] On 6 June 1941, he equalled Jesse Owen's world record for 100 m of 10.2 s (the time was achieved in a heat, he won the final in 10.4 s).

On 16 May 1942, he equalled the 100 y record of 9.4 s but this time was never accepted by the world governing body the IAAF because Davis used starting blocks of a type not officially approved.

[3] Davis also ran two wind-aided 220 y/ 200 m races in 20.2 s when the then world record was 20.3 s. The first occurred on 17 May 1941, the second in the United States championship final on 20 June 1943.

[5][6] Davis was a talented runner at Live Oak High School, just north of his birthplace in a rural town named Morgan Hill, California – as a 17-year-old he ran 100 y in 9.7 s and 220 y (straight course) in 21.0 s (the then world records were 9.4 s and 20.3 s respectively by Jesse Owens).