▁ 1 9 3 6 ▁United ▁States ▁Olympic ▁Tri als ▁were ▁held ▁at ▁Rand all ' s ▁Island ▁Stadium ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁City ; ▁Be eth am ▁entered ▁the ▁ 8 0 0 ▁meters ▁as ▁a ▁leading ▁favorite . ▁He ▁qualified ▁for ▁the ▁Tri als ▁final ▁by ▁placing ▁fourth ▁in ▁his ▁heat . ▁In ▁the ▁final , ▁Be eth am ▁stayed ▁in ▁the ▁middle ▁of ▁the ▁pack ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁lap ; ▁as ▁he ▁started ▁his ▁kick ▁early ▁on ▁the ▁second ▁lap , ▁he ▁was ▁sp ik ed ▁by ▁Mar m adu ke ▁Hob bs ▁and ▁fell , ▁losing ▁his ▁ch ances ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁Olympic ▁team . ▁He ▁did ▁not ▁finish ▁the ▁race , ▁which ▁was ▁won ▁by ▁Wood ru ff ; ▁his ▁appeal ▁for ▁a ▁solo ▁time - tri al ▁re - run ▁was ▁turned ▁down . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 7 , ▁his ▁final ▁year ▁at ▁Ohio ▁State , ▁Be eth am ▁repeated ▁as ▁Big ▁Ten ▁half - mile ▁champion ▁both ▁ind o ors ▁and ▁out do ors ; ▁his ▁winning ▁time ▁in ▁the ▁out door ▁meet , ▁ 1 : 5 2 . 2 , ▁broke ▁his ▁own ▁meeting ▁record ▁from ▁the ▁previous ▁year . ▁He ▁placed ▁third ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 7 ▁NCAA ▁champion ships ▁as ▁Wood ru ff ▁won ▁in ▁a ▁fast ▁race ; ▁Be eth am ' s ▁time , ▁ 1 : 5 0 . 8 ▁for ▁ 8 8 0 ▁yards , ▁was ▁his ▁lifetime ▁best . ▁ ▁Later ▁life