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This Day in Track & Field History–September 2
1901–John Flanagan achieved a pre-IAAF World Record of 171-9 (52.35) in the Hammer Throw at NY’s Celtic Park. Flanagan was a 3-time Olympic champion in the event (1900-1904-1908)
1960–Wilma Rudolph won her first gold medal at the Rome Olympics, taking the Women’s 100 in 11.0w. She equaled the world record of 11.3 in the semi-final race. Great Britain’s Dorothy Hyman (11.3w) and Italy’s Giuseppina Leone (11.3w) won silver and bronze, respectively.
Ralph Boston set an Olympic Record of 26-7 ¾ (8.12) in the Men’s Long Jump but almost lost the gold medal to his U.S. teammate Bo Roberson, who jumped 26-7 ¼ (8.11) on his final attempt. Soviet Igor Ter-Ovanesyan won the bronze medal with a leap of 26-4 ½ (8.04). Boston won silver in 1964 and bronze in 1968.
Unheralded Peter Snell won the Men’s 800 in 1:46.3. Snell, wearing New Zealand’s all-black uniform, was 5th with 200 meters to go but hugged the rail around the final turn and made a move in the final 50 meters to win. Jamaica’s George Kerr (1:47.1) finished 3rd.
Murray Halberg won the 5000-Meters over East Germany’s Hans Grodotzki and Poland’s Kazimierz Zimny. Halberg held the lead for most of the race, almost losing it towards the end but managing to secure the win.
The U.S. swept the medals in the 400-hurdles with Glenn Davis, Cliff Cushman, and Dick Howard.
Tamara Press set an Olympic Record to win the Women’s Shot Put. Earlene Brown made a clutch throw to win the bronze medal.
The 20k walk was won by the Soviet Union’s Vladimir Golubnichiy.
For more details on the event, check out the Olympic Reports and videos linked above.
1964—Terje Pedersen set a Javelin world record in Oslo, throwing 300-11 (91.72) past 90 meters and 300 feet. This was a phenomenal achievement that marked a historic moment in track and field history.
Progression of World Athletics Records
Javelin Throw World Record Progression
1972—Dave Wottle unleashed a remarkable kick in the Men’s 800-meters at the Munich Olympics, winning in a thrilling final stride over Yevgeniy Arzhanov. Wottle’s steady pace and strategic tactics ultimately led to his victory.
Despite his victory, Wottle always considered himself a
miler first and reflected on his unique approach to running.
Learn more about this event and watch videos linked above.
1977—The inaugural World Cup in Düsseldorf brought together many exceptional athletes and set the stage for future global events. Notable performances and matchups made this event unforgettable as reported by Garry Hill.
The event saw Edwin Moses dominating the 400-hurdles and Mike Boit facing Alberto Juantorena in the 800-meter rematch with high anticipation and live broadcast on ABC.
The memorable lunch gathering in Rome during the off-day of the World Championships held notable athletes like Carl Lewis, Evelyn Ashford, and more, joining for a unique dining experience.
For more highlights from the 1977 World Championships and the World Cup in Düsseldorf, dig into the linked content for videos and additional reports.
2007—Bernard Lagat accomplished a historic double by winning both the Men’s 1500 and 5000 in the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, setting a record for the first man to achieve this feat. Lagat’s strategic racing approach led to an unconventional slow-winning time in the 5000.
Lagat’s victory in the 5000 was a remarkable accomplishment against strong competitors like Eliud Kipchoge and Moses Kipsoro.
Witness more about Lagat’s legendary double win and other events at the World Championships through the provided videos and reports.
1985—Charlie Simpkins set a Collegiate Record in the Triple Jump at the World University Games in Kobe, Japan, making him one of the top jumpers in the sport at the time. Simpkins later became a prominent U.S. Olympian, winning a silver medal in 1992.
Explore more about Simpkins’ achievements with the linked content.
