J.A. RECTOR
- Sep 19, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 18
The Lawrenceville School – Olympic Silver Medalist 100 Meters
John “James Alcorn” Rector was the Valedictorian of the Class of 1906 at Lawrenceville Prep.
He captained the track team and held school records in the 100 Yards and 220 Yards Dashes.
He went on to attend the University of Virginia where he set program records in the sprints. He broke the world record in the 100 Yard Dash on May 9, 1908 in Charlottesville VA, at the Southern Intercollegiate Meet, in 9 2/5 seconds.
In the lead up to the 1908 Olympic Games of London, Rector won the Olympic Trials in the 100 meters. At the trials he equaled the 100 meter world record of 10 4/5 seconds.
At the Olympic Games he won silver, finishing runner up to South Africa’s Reggie Walker in the finals.
See video of Rector in action here, in the outside lane on the left:
The 1908 Olympic Games was the last time Rector competed in the sport. After track and field he became a lawyer. He practiced law for over thirty years in St. Louis before retiring to his original hometown, Hot Springs Arkansas.
