This Day in Track & Field, April 1, 2024, Ben Eastman sets WR at 600 yards, First Cherry Blossom Invitational Run, Ashton Eaton wins Texas Relays decathlon, by Walt Murphy News and Services

Walt Murphy is one of the finest track geeks that I know. Walt does #ThisDayinTrack&FieldHistory, an excellent daily service that provides true geek 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.

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

This Day in Track & Field–April 1

1933—Ben Eastman set a World Record of 1:09.2 for 600-yards at the PTA Sports Carnival in San Francisco.

1973—The first Cherry Blossom Invitational Run was held in Washington, D.C. 129 runners finished the race, including winners Sam Bair (51:22) and Kathrine Switzer (1:11:19).

1977—An Arizona State lineup of Gary Burl, Tony Darden, Gerald Burl, and Herman Frazier won the 4x220y at the Texas Relays in 1:21.7, equaling the World Record that was set by Tennessee in 1976

1978—As George Grenier wrote in T&F News, “William Snoddy, getting help from one of the bigger winds since the one that carried Dorothy from Kansas to Oz, bolted to history’s fastest 100 meters.” Oklahoma soph Snoddy, the 1977 NCAA Champion at 200 meters, ‘s time at the Dallas Invitational was 9.87, well under Jim Hines’ World Record of 9.95, and the wind reading was +11.2 meters per second (25mph)!

1979—Julie Shea set a World Record of 1:14.08 for 20-kilometers in Atlanta

2000—Linda Lypson-Blutreich set an American Record of 188-5 (57.42) in the Javelin at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh,NC.

This Day in Track & Field–December 1, Ron Delaney wins Melbourne Olympic 1,500 meters (1956), Did you know that he almost did not attend? Read the story! by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field/X-Country–November 28, Lee Calhoun wins 110 meter hurdles (1956), written by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field/X-Country–November 27, Al Oerter wins his first Olympic discus title (1956), written by Walt Murphy

2010—Oregon’s Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen, still in the early stages of their careers (and long before they got married), won the Decathlon (8310w/PB) and Heptathlon (5942w), respectively, at the Texas Relays.

Ashton went on to win two Olympic (2012,2016) and two World (2013,2015) titles (and set two World Records), while Brianne, representing her native Canada, was a bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics and a 2-time silver medalist at the World Championships (2013,2015). She also won 6 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles.

https://www.si.com/edge/2017/04/25/ashton-eaton-brianne-theisen-eaton-retired-life-after-track