Amateur Athletic Union medal presented to renown trend setter R. Earl Johnson in 1922 for the individual cross-country event. Medal measures 1.75″ in diameter, with a woman presenting a laurel on the front, and “Amateur Athletic Union of the United States MDCCCLXXVIII,” in raised letters around the edge. Reverse is engraved, “Individual Cross Country 1922, R. Earl Johnson.” Medal retains its original blue and gold ribbon and pin. In fine condition. R. Earl Johnson was the first nationally prominent African-American distance runner. He made his Olympic debut in 1920, and in 1924 he placed eighth in a field of 43, but then went on to lead the US to the silver medals in the cross-country team event. Johnson was the AAU champion at five miles for three straight years from 1921–1923 and won the 10 mile event in 1924. An impressive early African-American sports relic.
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