CREATE TABLE table_203_509 (id DECIMAL, "year" DECIMAL, "laetare medalist" TEXT, "position" TEXT)

who was the previous winner before john henry phelan in 1951 ?
SELECT "laetare medalist" FROM table_203_509 WHERE "year" < 1951 ORDER BY "year" DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "laetare medalist" FROM "table_203_509" WHERE "year" < 1951 ORDER BY "year" DESC NULLS LAST LIMIT 1