Fred ran cross country in 1941 and was the cross country team captain in 1941. Fred also ran track in 1941. He won Big Ten and NCAA individual championships in cross country, and was IU's first individual winner. In track he won the Big Ten two mile indoor championship and NCAA outdoor two mile title. He was a member of the 1948 U.S. Olympic team, placing 11th in 10,000 meters, and 1952 Olympic team, placing 21st in the 10,000 meters. He won a Sullivan Award for the nation's outside amateur athlete in 1950. Fred set the world indoor 2-mile record in 1952.