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Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
This Day in Track & Field–July 2
1881—Lon Myers, a Charter Member of the U.S. Hall of Fame(1974), ran 1:56.0 in London to break his own pre-IAAF World Record for 880-yards. Among his many National titles, he won the 100y, 200y, 440y, and 880y at the 1880 U.S. Championships.
Wiki Bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lon_Myers
1927–Fordham’s John Gibson won the 440-yard hurdles in 52.6 at the U.S. Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska, to smash the World Records for yards (54.2) and meters (53.8). Lord Burghley had set the yards mark earlier in the day at the British Championships in London!
From the “Progression of IAAF World Records”: “This was the last 440 WR set with the hurdles set at the old 40y spacing. Sometime during 1939-1941 the hurdle spacings were changed to 35m to conform with the 400mH event.”
Gibson was the coach at Seton Hall from 1945-1972. Among the athletes he coached was Andy Stanfield, the 1952 Olympic champion at 200-meters. Once his coaching career ended, Gibson became a long-time official at meets along the East coast. He was inducted into several halls of fame, including those of Fordham University, Seton Hall University, Helms Hall, and the N.J. Sports Authority.
Lord Burghley (aka David Cecil), whose character was featured in the movie The Chariots of Fire, would win the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1928 Olympics.
Wiki Bio(Burghley): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cecil,_6th_Marquess_of_Exeter
1948—Jamaica’s Herb McKenley set a World Record of 45.9 in his heat of the 400-meters at the U.S. Championships in Milwaukee. McKenley won the final in 46.3. (Full report July 3)
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_400_metres_world_record_progression
NY Times Obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/sports/othersports/28mckenley.html?_r=0
1955—Syracuse’s Jim Brown, destined to become one of the all-time great running backs in the NFL, finished 5th in the U.S. Decathlon Championship in Crawfordsville, IN. Placing 10th was Stan Huntsman, who went on to have a Hall-of-Fame coaching career at Ohio University, Tennessee and Texas. The winner of the event for the 2nd year in a row was the Reverend Bob Richards, who would win his 2nd Olympic title in the Pole Vault the following year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Brown
https://www.ustfccca.org/awards/stan-huntsman-ustfccca-class-of-1995
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78946
1963–20-year old Brian Sternberg had set three world records in the Pole Vault earlier in the year (one wasn’t ratified), but his career came to a sudden and tragic end when he suffered an injury to his spinal cord during a training session on a trampoline. From the Seattle Post Intelligencer: “ Performing a ‘double-back somersault with a twist’, something the Seattle native had done hundreds of times, he landed hard on his neck and his life changed forever. He was left a quadriplegic, with doctors offering a bleak prognosis for survival. Defying that prognosis, Sternberg lived nearly 50 more years before passing away in 2013 at the age of 69.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/123332_forty23.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-huskies/former-huskies-record-holder-sternberg-has-died/
1966—Competing in a special event at the U.S. Women’s Championships in Frederick, Maryland, Bob Seagren jumped 17-5 ½ (5.32) to match his American Record in the Pole Vault (but not ratified by the IAAF as a World Record).
American Records were also set by National Champions Charlette Cooke in the 880y (2:05.0), Doris Brown in the 1500 (4:20.2), and Cherrie Parrish-Sherrard in the 80-meter hurdles (10.7).
Results (Top 3): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_USA_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships
1967—Barbara Ferrell won the 100-meters at the U.S. Women’s Championships in Santa Barbara, California, in 11.1 to tie the World Record that was shared by Wyomia Tyus and Poland’s Irina Kirszenstein (Szewińska). 3rd in the race was Tyus, the 1964 Olympic champion in the 100, who went on to defend her title at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
In a battle of future Hall-of-Famers, Madeline Manning edged Doris Brown to win the 800-meters, with both getting credit for an American Record of 2:03.6.
Other future Hall-of-Famers who were winners here were Eleanor Montgomery in the High Jump (6-2 [1.88]) and Maren Seidler in the Shot Put (46-10 [14.27]).
Charlette Cooke set an American record of 52.5 for 400-meters–she finished third in that 800 (2:08.3).
Top 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_USA_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships
HOF Bios: Manning(1984) Brown(1990) Tyus(1980) Montgomery(2013) Seidler(2000)
1972–Bob Seagren jumped 18-5 ¾ (5.63) at the U.S. Olympic Trials (June 29-July 9) in Eugene to smash Kjell Isaakson’s 3-week old World Record of 18-2 ½ (5.55). Joining him on the team were Steve Smith and Jan Johnson, both of whom cleared 18-1/2 (5.50). Seagren and Johnson would win silver and bronze, respectively, at the Munich Olympics.
Ralph Mann set an American Record of 48.4 in the 400-meter hurdles, overtaking early leader Dick Bruggeman(48.6), who was also under the previous AR of 48.8. 3rd was Jim Seymour (49.3), who edged Bruce Collins (49.5) and Rob Cassleman (49.5). Mann would win the silver medal in Munich.
Florida Track Club teammates Frank Shorter (28:35.6) and Jeff Galloway (28:48.8) finished 1-2 in the 10,000-Meters (with temps in the 90s!). Eugene native Jon Anderson (29:08.2) had the hometown fans in a frenzy as he made up a 60-yard deficit in the last lap-and-a-half, finally passing Jack Bacheler (29:09.8) in the final homestretch to earn the 3rd spot on the team. The two had “bumped” briefly in the final sprint, with Bacheler getting disqualified! Bacheler took advantage of a 2nd chance by making the team in the Marathon later in the Trials (Shorter would also make the team in the Marathon).
From Jon Anderson:
Well … I have a good recollection and video of that race finish. Jack was on the white line that separates lanes 1 and 2. I had plenty of room on the inside of him, so took that path. He felt/heard me coming and instinctively swung his left arm out across my torso apparently thinking it would stop my progress. Brief, yes, but not a bump .. a swing with his left arm at me! I will and must add that Jack and I got along great in 1972 and after. He’s a gentleman … just made a mistake when he was clearly in a ‘world of hurt’ at the end of a hot 10K .. again, some sort of instinctive move when he was not clear headed. I ran a last lap of 63 .. his was 71+and surely was going slower than that 50 meters from the finish. Frankly, Jack’s disqualification was legit.
Others making the team:
Steeplechase-1.Mike Manley 8:29.8, 2.Doug Brown 8:31.8, 3.Steve Savage 8:32.8…4.Jim Dare 8:33.6
Javelin-1.Bill Schmidt (270-6 [82.46])/won bronze in Munich), 2.Milt Sonsky 267-11 [81.66]/on his 31st birthday), 3.Fred Luke (267-9 [81.62])
Results/Notes: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1972.pdf
Sports Illustrated: https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/07/10/just-a-guy-having-some-fun
Mike Fanelli’s Take on the 1972 Trials: https://trackandfieldnews.com/tracktown-usas-first-trials-turns-50/
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_pole_vault_world_record_progression
1974—Francie Larrieu ran 4:10.3 in Milan to shave .1s off her own American Record for 1500-meters
1983–Even though she was a relative rookie in the event, Rutgers’ Lori McCauley was disappointed after finishing 6th in the 400-Meter Hurdles on the first day (7-1) of the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in Colorado Springs. McCauley, who had run in lane one, felt better after officials ordered a rerun when it was determined that the other hurdlers had started at the wrong lines.
Taking advantage of her 2nd chance, McCauley, still in lane one, won the re-run in 55.69 to break Sharrieffa Barksdale’s six-week old American Record of 55.78.
http://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/03/sports/rutgers-woman-takes-first-in-400-hurdles-in-record-55.69.html
1984–Portugal’s Fernando Mamede ran 27:13.81 in Stockholm to break Henry Rono’s 6-year old World Record of 27:22.4.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_10,000_metres_world_record_progression
Wiki Bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Mamede
Unfulfilled Promise?: http://nnhsxc.blogspot.com/2007/07/strange-case-of-fernando-mamede.html
1987—Morocco’s Said Aouita won the Mile in Helsinki in a quick 3:46.76, but fell short of Steve Cram’s World Record of 3:46.32. He’s still #10 on the All-Time Performers’ list.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/07/03/aouita-runs-34676-mile-in-helsinki/1fc30a47-7af8-4c40-9a56-1f733b00e9d4/
1990–Great Britain’s Steve Backley set a World Record in the Javelin with a throw of 293-11 (89.58) in Stockholm. Backley would become a 3-time Olympic medalist, winning bronze in 1992 and silvers in 1996 and 2000.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_javelin_world_record_progression
http://www.stevebackley.com/
Training Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC2-PQjUJvQ
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1161979/Two-Olympic-medals-OBE-hip-replacement-40—My-health-battle-javelin-star-Steve-Backley.html
2002—China’s Liu Xiang ran 13.12 in Lausanne in to break Renaldo Nehemiah’s 24-year old World Junior/Under 20 Record of 13.23 in the 110-meter hurdles. He went on to win gold at the 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Championships.
2016—There were three women’s finals on the opening day of the U.S. Olympic Trials (July 1-10) in Eugene, Oregon.
Brittney Reese won the Long Jump with a big leap of 23-11 ¾ (7.31/=#9 All-Time World, =#3 A-T U.S.). Also making the team were Tianna Madison (23-1w [7.02]) and Janay DeLoach (22-9 [6.93]). Madison and Reese would win gold and silver, respectively, at the Rio Olympics.
Molly Huddle (31:41.62) won the 10,000-meters over Emily Infeld (31:46.09) and Marielle Hall (31:54.77)
Making the team in the Discus were Whitney Ashley (204-2 [62.25]), Shelbi Vaughan (197-9 [60.28]), and recent NCAA Champion Kelsey Card (197-3 [60.13]).
Results/Notes: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2016.pdf
2018—Sergey Shubenkov won the 110-meter hurdles at the István Gyulai Memorial in Hungary and improved his Russian Record to 12.92 (=#10 All-Time World).
U.S. Olympic Trials History (Through 2021): https://trackandfieldnews.com/usa-olympic-trials-history/
U.S. National Championships History: https://trackandfieldnews.com/u-s-national-championships-history/
Past U.S. Champions: https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/usatf-outdoor-champions/full-view.html
Born On This Day*
Walter Davis 47 (1978) One of the best “combo” jumpers in history
Competed in the Triple Jump at six World Outdoor Championships:
2005 World Champion (‘01-5th ‘03-Qual., ‘07-3rd, ’09-Qual.,’11-Qual.)
Long Jump at the Worlds (’03-7th, ‘05-Qual., ’07-Qual.)
2006 World Indoor Champion—Triple Jump (’03-2nd, ’10-Qual.)
2-time Olympic finalist—Triple Jump (2000-11th, 2004-11th); Long Jump (2004-Qual.round)
3-time U.S. Champion—Triple Jump (’02,’05,’06); 2-time U.S. Indoor Champion—TJ (2005,2006)
5-time NCAA Champion—LSU: LJ-2002; TJ-2001&2002 (Indoors & Outdoors)
7-time Junior College Champion—Barton County C.C.
LJ: 1999i, 2000(in&out), TJ:1999,2000(in&out)
PBs: 27-5 ¼ (8.36/’06), 58-1 ¼ (17.71/’06/#8 All-Time U.S. Outdoor), 58-2i (17.73/’06/=#9 AT World, #2 U.S.)
College PB: 56-10 ¾ (17.34/2002/#7 All-Time)
In addition to his double win at the 2002 NCAA Championships on his home track in Baton Rouge, he also ran the
lead-off leg on the winning 4×100 to lead LSU to the team title.
(2002 Feature): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk7snoJPjtA
LSU Bio: https://lsusports.net/sports/tf/roster/player/walter-davis/
Derrick Adkins 54 (1970) 1996 Olympic gold medalist—400m-hurdles; 1995 World Champion (1991-6th,1993-7th)
2-time U.S. Champion (1994,1995)
All-American at Georgia Tech:NCAA-1989-5th, 1990-6th, 1991-2nd, 1992-8th
1992 NCAA Champion—4×400(2:59.95/3rd leg-45.0)
2-time winner at the Penn Relays (Oly Development)…set the Relays Record of 48.91 in 1994.
#1 prep in the U.S. in 1988 (Malverne,NY/50.71)
PBs:13.69(1992), 47.54 (1995)
Street he grew up on in West Hempstead(NY) was renamed Derrick Adkins Lane after his Olympic win!
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78028
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Adkins
Dealing With Head Injuries: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/17/sports/running-hurdling-head-injuries.html
And Depression: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/20/sports/olympics-adkins-s-tough-choice-speed-or-stable-moods.html
Great Video: NBC’s Katie Couric happened to be sitting in front of Adkins’ sister and H.S. coach at the
1996 Olympics and volunteered to record the race on their camcorder, knowing they would be too
excited to do the job properly. Video includes Couric’s interview with Adkins on the following day’s
Today Show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4bhlfuTTfw
Diana Richburg 62 (1963) 1984 U.S. Olympian—1500m (1st round); 7th-1987 World Championships
1985 U.S. Champion—1500m
Former American Indoor Record holder at 1000-meters
One of America’s best middle-distance runners from 1983-1991…ranked #1 in the 1500 in 1987
2-time (1981,1982) All-American in the 800 at Lansingburgh H.S. (NY).(#2 behind Kim Gallagher each year)
PBs: 1:59.61 (1985), 2:39.28i (1985), 4:01.79 (1987), 4:25.77 (1987)
H.S. PBs: 2:03.7 (1982), 4:44.7 (1981); Set a National H.S. Record of 2:26.3 for 1000-yards in 1982
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77949
U.S. Rankings: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/04-w800RankUS.pdf
https://www.albany.edu/feature97/commencement_photos/spotlight.html
H.S. All-Americans: https://trackandfieldnews.com/tfn-girls-800-americas/
Wendell Mottley—Trinidad & Tobago 84 (1941) 1964 Olympic silver medalist—400m (bronze-4×400)
Former World Indoor Record holder—500y (55.5/1964), 600y (1:09.2/1964)
4-time IC4A Champion (Yale)—440y-1963,1964), 600y(i)-1963,1964
1966 British Empire Games Champion—440y (45.2)
Ranked #2 in the World in 1964 and 1966 (#6 in 1965)
Had significant careers in politics and finance.
(2007 article—written by Meredith Rainey Valmon)
http://ivy50.com/blackhistory/story.aspx?sid=5/11/2007
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/76930
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Mottley
Deceased
John McDonnell 82 (1938-June 7, 2021) The most successful college coach in any sport. His Arkansas teams won 40
NCAA championships, including six national triple crowns(XC/Indoor/Outdoor) and 12 consecutive NCAA Indoor
titles from 1984-95.
Six-time All-American in cross country and track & field at Southwestern Louisiana, earning a bachelor’s degree in
1969.
Inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 2005
One of the first jobs he held after emigrating to the U.S. from Ireland was as the centerfield TV cameraman for the
NY Mets!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McDonnell_(coach)
https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/legendary-arkansas-track-field-coach-john-mcdonnell-passes-away/
Current Arkansas coaches Chris Bucknam and Lance Harter Reflect
https://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2021/jun/08/video-chris-bucknam-and-lance-harter-john-mcdonnel/
HOF Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/john-mcdonnell
http://www.ustfccca.org/awards/john-mcdonnell-ustfccca-class-of-1999
https://www.ustfccca.org/2021/06/featured/ustfccca-mourns-passing-of-hall-of-famer-john-mcdonnell-arkansas
https://www.usatf.org/news/2021/razorback-legend-john-mcdonnell-passes-away-at-82
Margaret Jenkins 92 (1903-Jan.8, 1996) 2-time U.S. Champion-Javelin(1927,1928)
2-time U.S. Olympian-Discus! (1928-19th, 1932-9th)
From Olympedia: Jenkins attended San Jose State College, but there was no women’s track team at that time.
She was an all-round athlete, also competing in baseball, basketball, hockey, volleyball, and tennis and
between 1924-26, she was Santa Clara County tennis champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
https://blogs.sjsu.edu/wsq/2018/03/01/spartan-women-in-sports-margaret-jenkins-25-education/
https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/11/14/a-woman-of-firsts-honored-at-last/
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77876
