This Day in Track & Field History, February 18, 2024, Bob Seagren, Horace Ashenfelter, by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service

Walt Murphy is one of the finest track geeks that I know. Walt does #ThisDayinTrack&FieldHistory, an excellent daily service providing the true geek’s stories about our sport. You can check out the service for FREE with a free one-month trial subscription! (email: [email protected] ) for the entire daily service. We will post a few historic moments each day, beginning February 1, 2024.

 This  Day in Track & Field–February 18

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service  ([email protected]), used with permission.

(c)Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. May not be reprinted or retransmitted without permission

(1950 Indoor Nationals, O’Brien, Runyan, Isinbaeva, Coleman/Born On This Day-Kruger, A.Goucher, Ritter, Koch/R.I.P.- Fritz Pollard, Jr., Homer Jones, Lambert Redd, Roy Chernock)

1950—Freshman John Joe Barry, Villanova’s first recruit from Ireland, won the mile(4:11.5) by 5 yards over Horace Ashenfelter at the U.S. Indoor Championships before 12,500 fans at Madison Square Garden. (Barry was born in Illinois, but grew up in Ireland).

Other notable winners:

60y-Andy Stanfield (6.2)

1000y-Roscoe Lee Browne (2:15.6)…went on to have a successful career as an actor

60yh-Harrison Dillard (7.3) won the 4^th of his eventual 8 titles

Pole Vault-Bob Richards (14’/4.27)

Shot Put-Jim Fuchs (56-3  5/8 [17.15+])

Mile Walk-Henry Laskau (6:33.4) won the 3^rd of his 10 consecutive titles.

Stanfield (200), Ashenfelter (Steeplechase), Dillard (110-hurdles), and Richards (PV) all went on to win Olympic gold

   In 1952. Dillard had previously won the 100 meters at the 1948 Olympics.

      NY Times Coverage

1956–A week after improving his world indoor record in the Shot Put to 59-9 (18.21), Parry O’Brien ignored the 60-foot barrier by winning the AAU title in New York with an amazing toss of 61-5 ¼ (18.725m?). That was also better than his outdoor record of 60-10 (18.54) It was the 4^th of his 9 consecutive U.S. indoor titles.

Another WR was set by Bob Backus in the 35lb-Weight Throw (63-10  ½ [19.47]). It was the 3^rd of his 7 U.S. titles.

Results (for T&FN Subscribers): https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/eTN1956_vol02_14.pdf

Past U.S. Champions: https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/usatf-indoor-champions/full-view.html

1967—Bob Seagren set an American Record of 17-3 (5.26) in the Pole Vault at the Cleveland Knights of Columbus meet.

Report (For T&F News Subscribers)

1967(Updated)–Taking advantage of Louisville’s spacious 220-yard wooden oval (a rarity in those days), 2 individuals and one relay team set new World Indoor Records.

Tommie Smith won the 440y in 46.2 to smash Theron Lewis’s previous mark of 47.1.

Tom Von Ruden won the 880y in 1:49.0 to break Tom Farrell’s record of 1:49.8.

Southern University won the Mile Relay in 3:10.2 to take down the former mark of 3:11.1 that they had shared with

   Texas Southern.

Report (For T&F News Subscribers)