▁pack ▁and ▁out s print ▁his ▁oppon ents ▁at ▁the ▁end . ▁ ▁As ▁a ▁s oph om ore ▁at ▁Ohio ▁State , ▁Be eth am ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁Big ▁Ten ▁championship ▁in ▁the ▁ 8 8 0 - yard ▁( 8 0 4 . 7   m ) ▁run . ▁He ▁also ▁won ▁the ▁ 8 8 0 ▁yards ▁in ▁a ▁dual ▁meet ▁against ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Southern ▁California ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 3 5 ; ▁his ▁winning ▁time , ▁ 1 : 5 2 . 0 , ▁was ▁the ▁fast est ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁that ▁year . ▁Be eth am ▁entered ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁NCAA ▁champion ships ▁as ▁the ▁favorite , ▁but ▁dropped ▁out ▁early ▁on ▁the ▁second ▁lap . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 6 ▁Be eth am ▁def ended ▁his ▁Big ▁Ten ▁half - mile ▁title ▁in ▁a ▁meeting ▁record ▁ 1 : 5 2 . 4 ▁and ▁won ▁the ▁NCAA ▁ 8 0 0 - meter ▁championship ▁in ▁ 1 : 5 3 . 0 . ▁At ▁the ▁national ▁out door ▁champion ships ▁of ▁the ▁Am ateur ▁Athlet ic ▁Union ▁( AA U ) ▁a ▁week ▁before ▁the ▁Olympic ▁Tri als ▁Be eth am ▁won ▁a ▁close ▁race ▁against ▁John ▁Wood ru ff ; ▁his ▁winning ▁time , ▁ 1 : 5 0 . 3 , ▁broke ▁Ben ▁East man ' s ▁meeting ▁record ▁by ▁one - t enth ▁of ▁a ▁second . ▁ ▁The