Abel Kiviat: "Hebrew Runner" of the I-AAC

Abel Kiviat (1892-1991) or "Kivvie" as he was known to his friends, was one of track and field’s legendary personalities. The oldest of seven children of Jewish immigrants from Poland, Kiviat was recruited by coach Lawson Robertson of New York’s famed Irish-American Athletic Club when he was a senior at Curtis High School on Staten Island. The teenage prodigy known as "the Hebrew runner" of the I-AAC, defeated Hall of Fame runners while still in his teens. He was eventually elected captain of the I-AAC.

In 1909 Kiviat won the AAU's junior championship for one mile in the fast time of 4:24. He also won the Baxter Cup in the Columbia University races at Madison Square Garden with a time of 4:23.4. Kiviat was part of the world's record breaking teams in the 2,400 yard and 4 mile races. In 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912 he won the Canadian mile championship. Kiviat held records in the 600 yards, 1,000 yards and the mile, all at the same time.

In June of 1912, Kiviat set a world's record for the 1,500 meter distance with a time of 3:55.8, guarenteeing him a spot on the US Olympic Team at the games in Stockholm in 1912, where he won a silver medal in the 1500 meter race and a gold medal as a member of the 3,000 meter team race. He also competed for the US exhibition baseball team at the 1912 Olympic games.

Kiviat died at age ninety-nine, just months short of carrying the torch at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games at Barcelona in 1992.