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Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
This Day in Track & Field–October 26
1941–Italy’s Adolfo Consolini threw the Discus 175-0 (53.34) in Milan to break the 4-month old World Record of
174-8 3/4 (53.25) that was set by American Archie Harris. He would set two more World Records during his career, win 15 Italian titles, and compete in 4 Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1948 and silver in 1952. At the 1960 Games in Rome, at the age of 43, he recited the Athlete’s Oath at the Opening Ceremony before finishing 17th in the discus.
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_discus_throw_world_record_progression
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/71922
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_Consolini
1969—Ted Corbitt sets an American 100 Mile Track Record (From his son Gary)
On October 25 – 26, 1969, Ted Corbitt set an American Record for running 100 miles on the track. His time was 13:33:06 at age 50.
*The race was held at Walton-on-Thames in England.
*This race was 4 weeks after his 2nd place London-to-Brighton 52.5-mile effort
*Ted Corbitt finished 3rd in this race. The winner, Great Britain’s John Tarrant, set a World Record 12:31:10.
*The previous American Record held by an amateur was James Saunders, February 21, 1882 at the American Institute Ring, New York indoors. His time was 17:36:14.
Ted Corbitt, a member of the National Hall of Fame, wrote the following about the race in a lengthy article that appeared in the December 1969 issue of Long Distance Log titled “The RRC Invitational 100 Mile Track Race for the Percy Cerutty Cup” here’s an excerpt:
“My 5-mile segments times through 50 miles were: 36:00, 1:12:07, 1:47:59, 2:24:26, 3:01:09, 3:38:02, 4:14:45, 4:52:49, 5:32:10 and 6:13:22 leaving me in 4 th place.
Fatigue manifestations will hit each man according to the way his body responds to the stress of running. Outwardly it is obvious that each runner gradually slows up. In this sense, fatigue is sneaky in such a race where breathlessness is not provoked to any great degree.
In my own fight to finish 100 miles, somewhere past 50 miles I became aware of a strange feeling encircling my knees, not pain but fatigued produced discomfort, a “beaten up” feeling. By 70 miles I had rubbed a lot of skin off the inner side of my thighs especially on the left side: due to friction of my shorts. This could have stopped me, but the alert refreshment team headed by Mrs. Peter Goodsell, who used to serve as handler for her running husband, located some Vaseline for me. A good smearing of Vaseline on my legs turned off all pain. I’m still amazed at this since I subsequently poured a lot of water on my body, via sponges, much of it dripping down my shorts. One odd thing is that my right wrist became very sore during the last two hours of the run. This was due to flexing and extending this wrist joint as I ran. That was the extent of my discomfort.”
Gary Corbitt
Curator: Ted Corbitt Archives
www.tedcorbitt.com
Historian: National Black Marathoners Association
Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/theodore-ted-corbitt
1980—Making his debut at the distance, 22-year old Alberto Salazar won the Men’s race at the NY City Marathon in 2:09:41 in cold and windy weather. Salazar, the 1978 NCAA X-Country Champion, wore his University of Oregon uniform while fulfilling the promise he made to Race Director Fred Lebow that he would break 2:10 in his 1st marathon! Bill Rodgers, the 4-time defending champion, finished 5th in 2:13:20.
For the 3rd year in a row, Norway’s Grete Waitz won the Women’s title with a World Record performance (2:25:41.3/she ran 2:32:29.8 in 1978, 2:27:32.6 in 1979). Runnerup Patti Lyons-Catalano ran 2:29:33.6 to become the first American woman to break 2:30. 3rd in 2:34:24.9 was Waitz’s fellow Norwegian, Ingrid Kristiansen.
Winner of the Men’s Masters title was 41-year New Zealander Roger Robinson, making his marathon debut, with a time of 2:22:12. The husband of women’s pioneer Kathrine Switzer (they got married in 1987), Robinson, who has been covering the NY City Marathon as a journalist every year since 2000, shared his personal experiences with the event in 2020, which marked the 50th Anniversary of the race.
https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/world-marathon-majors/an-eye-witness-history-of-the-new-york-city-marathon/
Other Notable Finishers:
Men: 2.Rodolfo Gomez (Mexico) 2:10:13, 3.John Graham (Scotland) 2:11:46, 4.Jeff Wells 2:11:59…9.Dick Beardsley 2:13:56…21.Jerome Drayton (Canada) 2:17:58
Starters/Finishers: 14,011/12,512; Men: 11,646/10,891, Women: 2,465/1,621
https://results.nyrr.org/event/801026/overview
https://results.nyrr.org/event/801026/finishers
Top-25: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_New_York_City_Marathon
Videos:
Past Winners: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winners_of_the_New_York_City_Marathon
Photo Gallery—NY City Marathon Through The Years
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/nydn-sports-44-years-new-york-city-marathon-history-1-47895-photogallery.html
Born On This Day* Matthew Hudson-Smith-Great Britain 31 (1994) Silver medalist in the 400-meters at the 2023 World Championships
and 2024 Olympics…8th at the 2016 Olympics
Was edged by American Quincy Hall at the Paris Olympics—set his 3rd European Record of the season—43.44
Bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships…semi-finalist at the 2025 Worlds
Also a bronze medalist in the 4×400 at the 2017 World Championships and 2024 Olympics
2-time European Champion-400m (2018, 2022/2014-silver); 2-time European Champion-4×400 (2014, 2022)
Silver medalist in the 400 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Coached by Christine Ohurugu, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist at 400-meters
Revealed after the 2022 World Championships that he had attempted suicide in 2021 (See Ready For More link)
PBs: 20.34 (2024), 43.44(2024/ER/#5 All-Time); 2025 SBs: 22.52, 44.10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Hudson-Smith
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/133975
2024 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=p2fbTCYB_44
https://matthewhudsonsmith.com
2022 EC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYV6PrtItSk
Ready For More: https://olympics.com/en/news/british-400m-star-matt-hudson-smith-comeback-suicide-attempt
https://athleticsweekly.com/interviews/matthew-hudson-smith-on-why-hes-just-getting-started-1039993458/
No Excuses (’25 WC)
Joe Dial 63 (1962) 2-time NCAA Champion-Pole Vault (1984,1985,2nd-1983/Oklahoma State)2-time NCAA Indoor Champion (1984,1985); 2-time U.S. Champion (1985,1987)Set a World Indoor Record of 19-4 ¾ (5.91) in 1986; Outdoor PB: 19-6 ½ (5.96/1987)Set 8 American Records from 1985-1987
T&F News Athlete of the Year in 1981Set a U.S. High School Record of 17-4 ½ (5.30) in 1981Had been the head coach at Oral Roberts since 1993 before retiring after the 2022 season. Son Tommy had a
best of 17-1 3/4 (5.23)
Retirement
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Dial
Deceased
Paul Pilgrim 74 (1883-Jan.7, 1958) 1904 Olympic gold medalist—4-Mile Team Race (All NYAC members)
Winner of the 400 and 800 meters at the 1906 Intercalated Games
Served as the Athletic Director at the New York Athletic Club from 1914-1953
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78899
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Pilgrim
Janet Moreau 93 (1927-June 30, 2021) 1952 Olympic gold medalist—4×100 relay (2nd round—100m)
Mae Faggs, Barbara Jones, Janet Moreau, Cathy Hardy (team set a World Record of 45.9)
1951 Pan-American Games Champion—4×100
Frustrated that the Catholic Church wouldn’t let women become priests, she studied to become a lay chaplain and
remained active in the Church throughout her life.
From Olympedia: “…was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame (1968), the Boston University Hall of
Fame (1979), the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame (1987/she was an All-State swimmer at Tolman[RI] H.S.),
and the Rhode Island Hall of Fame, and in 1986 was made a charter member of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame”.
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77919
4×100 Report: https://www.olympedia.org/results/59185
Once an Olympian…: https://patch.com/rhode-island/barrington/once-an-olympian-always-an-olympian
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/providence/name/janet-stone-obituary?id=12159599
Jock Semple 84 (1903-March 10, 1988) Long-time co-director of the Boston Marathon
Famously (Infamously?) known for trying to prevent Kathrine Switzer from continuing to run in the 1967 Boston
Marathon (“Get out of my race!”)
Switzer and Semple would later become “best of friends”
The native of Scotland competed in the Boston Marathon not long after arriving in the U.S.
From Wikipedia: He was a masseur and physical therapist for the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics, and a
trainer for Olympic athletes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_Semple
For Runner’s World Subscribers?): Great Photo Sequence and a Look Back
Just Call Me Jock (Radio Interview): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8grEVZwsnc
A Reunion of Sorts
Irascible and Lovable
Sam Francis 88 (1913-April 23, 2002) 1937 NCAA Champion—Shot Put (Nebraska/2nd in 1936)
4th at the 1936 Olympics
Was a running back in the NFL for 4 seasons (Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Brooklyn Dodgers[!])
PB: 53-6 (16.30/1937)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Francis_(American_football)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78414
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FranSa20.htm
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