This Day in Track & Field History, April 5, 2024, UTEP sets 4x220yWR (1957), Al Oerter (1958), Lorna Griffin (1980), Jud Logan (1986)

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: WaltMurphy44@gmail.com ) for the entire daily service. We will post a few historic moments each day, beginning February 1, 2024.

This Day in Track & Field, June 21, John Landy breaks Roger Bannister’s World record at mile (1954) in Turku, Finland, by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field, June 20, Jesse Owens wins 100m, 200m, 220y hurdles and long jump at NCAA, for second year in row! (1936), by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field, June 19, Paavo Nurmi sets 1,500m/5,000m WR in 50 minutes, Dylan Thomas wins Grammer School Mile (1928), by Walt Murphy )

By Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission.

This Day in Track & Field–April 5

1957—A University of Texas lineup of Wallace Wilson, Eddie Southern, Hollis Gainey, and Bobby Whilden set a Collegiate and World Record of 1:22.7 in the 4x220y at the Texas Relays.

Whilden, now 88(87?), continues to succeed in Masters competition, setting a World Record of 9.63 for 60-Meters in his age group at the 2022 U.S. Masters Indoor Championships!

https://alcalde.texasexes.org/2022/11/longhorn-track-record-running/

https://pennrelays.com/honors/wall-of-fame/bobby-whilden/183

1958–Kansas senior Al Oerter had three throws longer than Fortune Gordien’s World Record of 194-6 (59.28) in the Discus at the Kansas Relays, but the marks couldn’t be considered for record purposes since the field sloped more than the allowable limit. Oerter, who had won the first of his 4 Olympic discus titles two years earlier, had throws of 202-6 (61.72), 198-7 (60.52?), and 195-4 (59.54?).

1980—Lorna Griffin threw 192-1 (58.54) in Tempe, Arizona, to set the 5^th of her 9 American Records in the discus.

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77848

http://spufalcons.com/news/2012/7/18/12_gen_July27.aspx

1986—Jud Logan threw 256-3 (78.10) at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State to set the 7^th of his 10 American Records in the Hammer Throw.

The long-time coach at Ashland University passed away in January, 2022, at the age of 62.

https://goashlandeagles.com/news/2022/1/3/track-and-field-national-champion-head-coach-us-olympian-jud-logan-passes-away.aspx

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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