John Graves

Four Time State Champion in the 880 yd run 1931-1934 An amazing record of athletic superiority that began with a 200-yard sprint to victory in 1931 was climaxed in 1934 when John Graves, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Graves, won the state high school half mile run for the fourth straight year. Graves an eighth grader in 1931 entered the state high school meet unknown. After being boxed most of the race, the Cherokee youth suddenly uncorked a tremendous sprint in the last 200 yards and came from far behind to break the tape in 2:01.7. Since that feat, Graves has shot rapidly into state and national prominence. Besides capturing the district and state half-mile titles for four straight years, he was second in the national interscholastic meet at Chicago in 1932 and won one section of the half mile at the same meet in 1933 and 1934. Also in 1933 while winning the state meet for the third time, he set the state record at 1:56.5. This time still stands as the schools’ best time at this distance. His record converts to a1:55.8 for today’s 800 meter run. Because he ran as an eighth grader he was not able to compete during his senior year, but did run several exhibition races during that year’s track season.