James Rosenberger

Who was James Rosenberger?

James Maher Rosenberger was an American track and field athlete and a member of the Irish American Athletic Club. He was born in New York City and died in Brooklyn, New York.

In 1909, at the Amateur Athletic Union metropolitan senior championships, held at Travers Island, Rosenberger took first place in 100 and 220 yard dash. The following week, Rosenberger was part of the Irish American Athletic Club's four-man relay team that broke the world's record for the one mile relay, with a time of 3 minutes 20 2/5 seconds. The other three men on the record breaking team were; C.S. Cassara, Melvin Sheppard, and William Robbins.

On April 9, 1911, Rosenberger anchored the Irish American Athletic Club 4x440 yard relay team that broke the world record at Celtic Park, Queens, New York, and set the first IAAF- recognized world record for 4x440 yard or 4x400 meter relay race, with a time of 3 minutes and 18.2 seconds. The other members of the world record setting team were; Harry Gissing, Mel Sheppard and Harry Schaaf.

Rosenberger competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics, in the 400 metres race where he was eliminated in the semi-finals.

In 1913, Rosenberger was part of a team of Amateur Athletic Union athletes who went to Australia to compete.