This Day in Track & Field History, April 22, 2024, Randy Matson sets Shot Put WR (1967), Deby LaPlant sets 100m hurdle AR (1979), Ryan Hall runs fastest US marathon debut (2007), by Walt Murphy News and Results 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.

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

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

This Day in Track & Field-April 22

1967–Texas A&M’s Randy Matson bettered his own World Record in the Shot Put with his throw of 71-5 ½ (21.78) in College Station, Texas (Still #10 All-Time College/indoor-outdoor).

1979—Deby LaPlante ran 13.10 at the Mt.SAC Relays to set an American Record in the 100-meter hurdles. LaPlante won two indoor (’76,’78) and two outdoor (’78,’79) U.S. titles.

1988—Jud Logan set the 9^th (and final) American Record of his career with a throw of 268-8 (81.88) at Penn State. He passed away early in 2022 after a long run as the coach at Ashland University.

Jud Logan, Track & Field News cover, 1986

2007—Finishing 7^th at the London Marathon, Ryan Hall ran 2:08:24, the fastest U.S. debut performance ever in the event. The previous best of 2:09:41 was jointly held by Alberto Salazar (1980) and Alan Culpepper (1992). The winner of the race was Kenya’s Martin Lel (2:07:41).

Among the men dropping out in the warm conditions were some of the biggest names in marathoning—2004 Olympic medalists Stefano Baldini (Gold/Italy) and Meb Keflezighi (Silver/USA), former World Record holder Khalid Khannouchi, and Haile Gebrselassie (ETH). World Record holder Paul Tergat (KEN) could only manage a 6^th-place finish.

The winner of the Women’s race was China’s Chunxiu Zhou (2:20:38).

http://www.marathonguide.com/news/exclusives/LondonMarathon_2007/LondonMarathon2007PostRace.cfm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_London_Marathon

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgpnUgz__6Q

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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