Born June 23, 1892, New York, N.Y. Died August 24, 1991.

Abel Kiviat was one of the greatest middle distance runners in the world just prior to World War I. At one point, he simultaneously held the world indoor bests in the 600, 1,000 and one mile, the only person in history to ever accomplish that feat. In 1912, he was the silver medalist in the Olympic 1,500 and was also a world record holder outdoors during that era. His roommate on the boat trip to the 1912 Olympics was another Hall of Fame enshrinee, Jim Thorpe.

Starting in 1909 while still in high school, Kiviat went on to win five national indoor titles and four outdoors, three in the one mile and one in cross country. In 1912, he lowered the world 1,500-meter record three times and his final time of 3:55.8 lasted as the world standard for five years. Competing until 1925, Kiviat served in France in World War I and maintained a life-long interest in the sport by serving as a press steward at major meets.