Another legendary figure in the history of Bowdoin track and
field throwers, Alex Schulten established a standard of success
that has stood the test of time.
Hailing from nearbyWoolwich, Schulten honed his craft under the
watchful eyes of coach Frank Sabasteanski and his predecessor,
record-holding hammer thrower BillMcWilliams ’57. As a
sophomore, he won the NCAA Championship in the hammer throw with a
toss of 191 feet, 6 inches, to earn AAU All-American recognition in
both the collegiate and university divisions—nearly unheard
of for a smallcollege athlete. Later that summer, Schulten was a
finalist at the U.S. Olympic Trials, just missing out on an Olympic
berth.
Schulten continued to excel as an upperclassman, going undefeated
in the 35-pound weight throw and capturing the Indoor College
Championship as a junior. Again he was undefeated in the hammer
throw outdoors, earning AAU All-American honors and notching the
top collegiate throw of the year with a school record 202 feet, 11
inches—a mark that still stands today.
Among his career accolades were the Elmer Longley Hutchinson
Memorial Trophy “for conduct on and off the field” and
the Frederic Tootell Trophy for most outstanding field performer at
theMaine State Championship. He graduated holding every Bowdoin and
state record in the hammer throw and 35-pound indoor weight
throw.
An outstanding all-around student-athlete, Schulten was an English
major who collected dean’s list honors. A fraternity
president, he was also a tenor in the Glee Club and the Bowdoin
Bachelors. Schulten was born in New York City in 1944 and married
the former ElizabethWitham. After Bowdoin, he was a teacher, a
track and field coach at Colby College, and an insurance and real
estate executive. He died unexpectedly in 1986.
