▁ ▁Be eth am ▁continued ▁running ▁after ▁gradu ating ▁from ▁Ohio ▁State . ▁He ▁placed ▁fifth ▁in ▁the ▁AA U ▁ 8 0 0 ▁meters ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 7 ▁and ▁third ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁but ▁reg ained ▁the ▁championship ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 ; ▁his ▁winning ▁time ▁was ▁ 1 : 5 1 . 7 . ▁He ▁also ▁won ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁( 1 : 5 1 . 1 ) ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 1 ▁( 1 : 5 0 . 2 ), ▁becoming ▁a ▁four - time ▁national ▁out door ▁champion ; ▁in ▁addition , ▁he ▁won ▁the ▁ 6 0 0 ▁meters ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁AA U ▁ind oor ▁champion ships . ▁In ▁August ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁he ▁anch ored ▁an ▁American ▁ 4 ▁× ▁ 8 0 0 ▁metres ▁relay ▁team ▁to ▁an ▁uno fficial ▁world ▁record ▁of ▁ 7 : 3 5 . 2 ▁in ▁a ▁race ▁against ▁the ▁French ▁team ▁in ▁Paris . ▁ ▁Be eth am ▁lost ▁another ▁opportunity ▁to ▁qual ify ▁for ▁the ▁Olympics ▁when ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁Summer ▁Games ▁were ▁cancel led ▁due ▁to ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁He ▁en list ed ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Navy ▁after ▁the ▁Japanese ▁attack ▁on ▁Pear l ▁Har bor , ▁but ▁continued ▁running ; ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁he ▁won ▁the ▁ 8 8 0 ▁yards ▁at ▁the ▁Mill rose ▁Games ▁and ▁was ▁awarded ▁the