by RBR Admin
Walt Murphy is one of the finest track statisticians 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.
(c)Copyright 2024-all rights reserved. It may not be reprinted or retransmitted without permission.
By Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission.
This Day in Track & Field–June 12
1924—Morgan Taylor bettered the World Record in the 400-meter Hurdles on consecutive days at the U.S. Men’s Olympic Trials at Harvard. He ran 53.0 in his heat (6-13) and, despite a driving rain, bettered that with his winning time of 52.6 in the final (6-14). Both marks were accepted as American Records but were never ratified as World Records.
Hall-of-Famer Taylor would again better the existing World Record when he ran 52.6 to win Olympic gold later in the year, but the IAAF also rejected that mark because he knocked over a hurdle during the race (the rule in effect at the time).
Taylor won two more Olympic medals in the event–bronze in 1928 and 1932.
Results/Notes: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1924.pdf
Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/frederick-morgan-taylor
1924 Olympic Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHySVa3LWzk
#1 Hurdler of the 1920s?: http://www.nuts.org.uk/trackstats/morgantaylor.htm
1952–Great Britain’s Jim Peters set a World Record of 2:20:42.2 to win the Polytechnic/AAA Marathon on the famous Chiswick-Windsor course that ended in West London.
The course was first used in 1909, a year after the now-standard marathon distance of 26-miles, 385 yards, had been established at the London Olympics. 8 World Records were set on the course from 1909-1965, including two more by Peters and one by American Buddy Edelen.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_world_record_progression
BIO: http://www.stfinbarrsac.com/?p=1807 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytechnic_Marathon
1952—Lots of past and future stars, many of whom would enjoy success at the Helsinki Olympics later in the year, were in action at the NCAA Championships in Berkeley, California (6-13,14).
USC’s Jack Davis (14.0) won the 110-Meter Hurdles over Stanford’s Bob Mathias (14.2). It was the 3rd win in a row for Davis, who won the imperial version of the hurdles in ’50 and ’51. He would win the first of his two Olympic silver medals in Helsinki later in the season. Mathias, the winner of the Decathlon at the 1948 Olympics, would win a 2nd gold in Helsinki.
USC Junior Parry O’Brien won the first of his two Shot Put titles with a Meet Record toss of 57-1/2 (17.38+). He finished 2nd (170-4) in the Discus to teammate Sim Iness (173-2 [52.78]). Both would win gold medals in their respective specialties in Helsinki and would become World Record holders. (O’Brien would win a 2nd gold medal in 1956).
Morgan State’s George Rhoden (46.3) won his 3rd straight 1-lap title, beating San Francisco’s Ollie Matson (46.6) in the 400-Meters (won the 440y in ’50, ’51). 3rd was USC sophomore Jim Lea (47.3). Rhoden would win two gold medals in Helsinki—in the 400, and as a member of Jamaica’s winning 4×400 team. Matson also won two medals in Helsinki (400-bronze, 4×400-silver) before embarking on a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. Lea would set a World Record (45.8) in the 440y in 1956.
Kansas sophomore Wes Santee, not yet one of the world’s best milers, won the 5000-Meters in 14:36.3. He would win the NCAA Mile the following year.
Columbia junior George Shaw set a Meet Record of 49-1 ¾ (14.98) in the Triple Jump. Finishing 8th was Wheaton’s Cleburne Price, who would become the long-time coach at Texas.
Team champion USC almost tripled the score of runnerup San Jose State, 66-7/12 to 24-1/2
O’Brien, Davis, Mathias, Santee, Price, and Matson are all members of the National Hall of Fame.
Results: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1952.pdf
Rhoden: https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/72324
Shaw(Columbia HOF): http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=9600&ATCLID=1594743
1958–Villanova’s Ron Delany, the 1956 Olympic 1500-Meter champion, closed out his brilliant collegiate career by winning the Mile and 880y at the NCAA Championships in Berkeley, California. Up first was the mile, with Cal’s Don Bowden, the American Record holder, setting a fast pace in an attempt to blunt Delany’s feared kick.
Delany, mindful that he still had the 1/2-Mile coming up, was content to stay near the rear of the chase pack. Bowden couldn’t maintain his quick tempo, allowing Delany to gradually move up, and the Irishman went on to win his 3rd title in a row (1500 in 1956). Bowden (4:06.9) faded to 4th, while Oregon’s Jim Grelle (4;04.8), a future American Record holder and the 1959 NCAA champion, finished 2nd to Delany for the 2nd year in a row. Delany was at his exciting best in the 880y, coming from more than a second back with a 1/2-lap to go to pass Manhattan’s Tom Murphy (1:49.4) to finish off his memorable double win. Delany’s winning times of 4:03.5 and 1:48.6 made it the fastest 1-day double in history.
Delany wasn’t the only 1956 Olympic star in action. Ohio State’s Glenn Davis who won the gold medal in the 400-Meter Hurdles in Melbourne, won the 440y out of lane 8 in 45.7 to break his own World Record by .1s. Kansas senior Al Oerter, who won the first of his four Olympic gold medals in Melbourne, won the Discus for the 2nd year in a row, but had to share the title with USC’s Rink Babka, with both throwing 186-2 (56.74?/no tie-breaker in effect at the time). Babka and Oerter went on to become lifelong friends.
Thanks to a mutual acquaintance, old friends and rivals Delany and Murphy were reconnected recently after a 40-year gap. Said my cousin Tom, “Got a call today from Dublin, it was Ronnie Delany. He got my phone number and we had a good half hour chat about the good old days. I told him every time I hear his name mentioned, my first words are, ” I should have kicked sooner”. I lost to him 3 times by a total of 1 foot. He has 6 children and 17 grandchildren, they all live within a 1/2 mile of each other”.
Sports Illustrated Vault: https://vault.si.com/vault/1958/06/23/the-moment-of-record
Results: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1958.pdf
1959—Poland’s Edmund Piatkowski threw the Discus 196-6 (59.91) in Warsaw to break Fortune Gordien’s 6-year old World Record of 194-6 (59.28).
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_discus_world_record_progression
1969—Senior Casey Carrigan (Orting,WA), who made the 1968 U.S. Olympic team as a junior, set a National High School Record of 17-4 ¾ (5.305) in the Pole Vault at the Golden West Invitational in Sacramento,CA. With the rest of the meet completed, fans surrounded the PV pit as Carrigan made 3 unsuccessful attempts at 17-10 ¼ (5.44), which would have been a World Record! 2nd was Steve Smith (South-Torrance,CA/16-8 ¾ [5.10]) and 3rd was Dave Roberts (Conroe,TX(15-4 [4.675]). Smith would set multiple World Indoor Records and Roberts would win the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics (and set 2 World Outdoor Records).
Willie McGee (Rowan,MS) won the 100-Yard dash in 9.3 to equal the National H.S. Record.
Steve Prefontaine (Marshfield-Coos Bay,OR), who had set a National H.S. Record of 8:41.6 for 2-Miles earlier in the season, was hoping to get under 4-minutes in the Mile, but windy conditions held him to a winning time of 4:06.0. 2nd in 4:09.3 was Ken Popejoy (Glenbard East,IL).
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/1969/gwi_hist.pdf
1991—The U.S. Championships returned to Downing Stadium on NY’s Randall’s Island after a long hiatus and local fans were treated to a World Record of 9.90 by Leroy Burrell in the Men’s 100-Meters. Finishing 2nd was Burrell’s training partner, Carl Lewis (9.93), the previous record holder at 9.92.
“I’m so overwhelmed by the whole thing,” said Burrell. “When you dream about setting a world record, you imagine feeling very happy, but that’s not exactly what it is. There are so many emotions flowing through me right now that I just can’t describe the feeling. I never thought it would feel this way; it’s very humbling.”
Burrell, the head coach at Houston at the time, was busy at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, but his wife, Michelle Finn, another sprinter of note, was present to watch son Cameron, the #1 high school sprinter in the U.S. (2013), win the “Dream 100” (10.40) at the 2013 adidas Grand Prix, which was held in the new stadium on Randall’s Island. The younger Burrell won the 100-meters at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Sadly, he passed away in 2021 at the age of 26.
(Full recap tomorrow—June 15)
Results(Top 3): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_USA_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_100_metres_world_record_progression
2000—Jeff Hartwig raised his American Record in the Pole Vault from 19-9 (6.02) to 19-9 ¼ (6.03) in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
2003—4 Collegiate Records were set, all by women, at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento (June 11-14):
1500–Mississippi State sophomore Tiffany McWilliams won the first of her two NCAA titles in 4:06.75
400-Hurdles (6-13)—UCLA Junior Sheena Johnson also won the first of her two NCAA titles in 54.24…she would the
silver medal at the 2008 Olympics
Hammer—Florida sophomore Candice Scott won with a throw of 229-0 (69.80?)
Javelin—Indiana senior Irina Kharun threw 202-10 (61.82?).
In other action, Texas frosh Sanya Richards won the 400 in 50.58, setting an American Junior Record, and anchored the Longhorns to a
win in the 4×400 (3:26.76)
South Carolina senior Aileen Bailey won the 100 (6-13/11.18) and 200 (22.65), with LSU’s Muna Lee finishing 2nd in both
(11.22,22.76).
LSU won the team title over Texas, 64-50.
Getting double duty from Daniel Lincoln and Alistair Cragg, Arkansas won the Men’s team title over Auburn, 59-50.
Lincoln won the 10,000 (6-12/28:20.20) and his 2nd title in the Steeplechase (6-13/8:26.65), while Cragg won the 5000 (13:47.87)
and finished a close 2nd to his teammate in the 10,000 (28:20.29).
Arkansas’ win marked a return to the victory stand for coach John McDonnell, whose teams had won 8 straight titles from 1992-1999.
The University of Pennsylvania had two winners—Sam Burley in the 800 (1:46.50) and Brian Chaput in the Javelin (258-2).
Results: http://flashresults.com/2003_Meets/outdoor/ncaa1/index.htm
Men: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2003.pdf
Women: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2003w.pdf
Sanya Richards-Ross:
http://www.ustfccca.org/ncaa-100/sanya-richards-texas-400-meters-4×400-relay-2003-ncaa-championships
2005–Jamaica’s Asafa Powell ran 9.77 in Athens, Greece, to break Maurice Greene’s 6-year old World Record in the 100 Meters, which had been set in the same stadium in 1999. Powell went on to tie his own record twice in 2006 and lowered it to 9.74 in 2007.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_100_metres_world_record_progression
2008—Oregon sophomore Ashton Eaton (8055), destined to become one of the greatest decathletes in history, won the first of his three collegiate titles in his specialty (6-11,12) at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines,Iowa (June 11-14). He would win Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016 and set a World Record of 9045 points in 2015 (since broken).
Other winners with bright futures ahead of them included Colorado junior Jenny Barringer(now Simpson), who won the 2nd of her 3 titles in the Steeplechase (6-13/9:29.20-Collegiate Record), Ole Miss junior Brittney Reese, winner of the Long Jump (22-9[6.93]), and Texas Tech senior Sally Kipyego, who won the 5000-Meters (6-13/15:15.08), giving her a record-tying total of 9 NCAA titles (Wisconsin’s Suzy Favor also won 9). Despite running a personal best of 4:06.67, she was denied a record 10th title in the 1500 the next day, finishing 2nd to Florida State’s Hannah England, a sophomore from Great Britain, who set a Collegiate Record of 4:06.19! Finishing 3rd in this greatest of NCAA 1500s was Tennessee junior Sarah Bowman, who ran 4:07.50!
Barringer-Simpson would finish 8th in the Steeplechase at the Beijing Olympics later in the year, but would soon become one of the best in the world at 1500-Meters, winning the World Championship title in 2011, the bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, and silver medals at the 2013 and 2017 World Championships.
Reese would win gold in the Long Jump at the 2012 Olympics (silver in 2021) and has won six World titles (3-indoors, 3-outdoors), while Kipyego won the silver medal in the 10,000 at the 2012 Olympics.
On the men’s side, winners who went on to have future success included LSU senior Richard Thompson (100-10.12/6-13), who would win gold in the 4×100 and silver in the 100 in Beijing (and relay silver in 2012), Florida State senior Walter Dix (200-20.40), who would win bronze in the 100 and 200 in Beijing, Texas senior Leo Manzano, who won his 2nd NCAA title in the 1500 (3:41.25) and went on to win the silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, and South Carolina junior Jason Richardson (110h-13.40), who won his specialty at the 2011 World Championships(and silver at the 2012 Olympics).
Finally, Oral Roberts senior Andretti Bain (winner of the 400-44.62), named after the legendary race-car driver Mario Andretti, won a silver medal in Beijing as a member of the Bahamas’ 4×400 relay.
Team titles went to Florida State(M) and LSU(W).
Results: http://flashresults.com/2008_Meets/outdoor/DivisionI/index.htm
Men: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2008.pdf
Women: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2008w.pdf
2014—Fans at the 10th annual adidas Grand Prix, held in Icahn Stadium on New York’s Randall’s Island, were treated to the greatest high jump competition in history, with Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim both clearing 7-11 ¼ (2.42), Bondarenko getting the win on fewer misses.
Both men came into the meet with bests of 7-10 ¾ (2.41) and each had won a World title, Bondarenko outdoors in 2013 and Barshim indoors in 2014. They, along with a few others, had been instrumental in making their event one of the hottest in the sport.
Barshim had been clean through 7-7 ¼ (2.32), a height also cleared by American Erik Kynard and Ukraine’s Andriy Protsenko, while Bondarenko had calmly passed after clearing 7-4 ½ (2.25) in his only effort up to this point.
Bondarenko went into the lead with his first-jump clearance of 7-8 ½ (2.35), while Barshim and Protsenko needed 3 attempts to stay in the competition. Kynard went out at this height. Barshim cleared 7-9 ¾ (2.38) on his first attempt to take the lead, while Bondarenko passed again and Protsenko missed his lone effort at this height (he would go out at the next height after missing on his two remaining jumps).
The crowd was really getting into it now, following every attempt closely. The B&B boys rewarded the fans’ attention by clearing 7-10 ½ (2.40) on their second attempts, the first time in history that two men jumped that high in the same competition. And they weren’t done yet, as each cleared an amazing 7-11 ¼ (2.42) on their first jumps! Barshim was trailing Bondarenko because of his early misses and missed on his one attempt at 8-feet even (2.44), with his rival again passing.
They then took aim at the World Record of 8-1/2 (2.45), which was set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993. Neither was successful at 8-3/4 (2.46), although Barshim was tantalizingly close on one of his two attempts. While the event ended with failures, no one was disappointed after witnessing one of the greatest head-to-head battles the sport had ever seen.
“The crowd was fantastic,” said Barshim. “To come down and have the whole stadium on its feet clapping, as a high jumper that is amazing.”
The past and the future met in the Men’s 400, with LaShawn Merritt (44.19) beating unheralded Wayde van Niekirk (44.38) of South Africa. Merritt was a winner at the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 & 2013 World Championships, while van Niekirk won gold at the 2016 Olympics (setting a World Record of 43.03!) and the 2015 and 2017 Worlds.
Other winners/highlights at this high-quality meet:
Men’s 800-Kenya’s David Rudisha (1:44.63)
Men’s Long Jump-Jeff Henderson (27-4 [8.33]), 2.Christian Taylor (26-5 1/2w [8.06])
Men’s Discus: 1.Robert Harting (Germany/223-11 [68.24])
Women’s 1500: 1.Abeba Aregawi (Sweden/4:00.13, 2.Dawit Seyaum (Ethiopia/4:00.66), 3.Jenny Simpson (4:02.54), 4.Shannon
Rowbury (4:03.38)
Women’s 100m-Hurdles:1.Queen Harrison (12.62), 2,Dawn Harper-Nelson (12.63), 3.Lolo Jones (12.77)
Women’s Pole Vault: 1.Fabiana Murer (Brazil/15-9 [4.80]), 2.Jenn Suhr (15-5 [4.70])
Women’s Shot Put: 1.Valerie Adams (New Zealand (64-6 ¾ [19./68]), 2.Michelle Carter (64-1/4 [19.51])
Junior Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc,MI) won the High School Dream Mile in 4:02.02.
Results: https://www.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=89&do=news&news_id=268193]
IAAF Report: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/bondarenko-barshim-new-york-iaaf-diamond-leag
WR Attempt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1tPFhJ1chI
LetsRun Coverage: https://www.letsrun.com/events/2014-adidas-grand-prix/
2014—The NCAA Championships in Eugene (June 11-14) came to a close, with Oregon’s men and Texas A&M’s women claiming the team titles. Oregon’s 88 points was the highest winning total since the current scoring system was put into place in 1985 (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1).
Freshman Edward Cheserek helped Oregon’s cause by winning the 10,000 (6-11) in 28:30.18 and finishing 2nd (13:18.71) in the 5000 (6-13) behind Arizona senior Lawi Lalang (13:18.36). Lalang would finish 2nd (3:39.13) in the 1500 on the final day to Oregon’s Mac Fleet, who defended his title with a time of 3:39.09.
Another successful defender was Texas junior Ryan Crouser, who won his 2nd Shot Put title with a toss of 69-3 ½ (21.12). His cousin, Oregon junior Sam Crouser, won the Javelin with a throw of 252-7 (76.98).
Freshman Devon Allen gave Oregon its other individual title, winning the 110-Hurdles over USC senior Aleec Harris (13.16-13.18).
Other notable winners included Florida junior Marquis Dendy (LJ/26-3[8.03]/6-12); TJ/55-11 1/4w[17.05]) and Ole Miss junior Sam Kendricks, who won his 2nd straight title in the Pole Vault (18-8 ¼[5.70]).
As noted yesterday, Baylor Freshman Trayvon Brommell won the 100-meters in 9.97, a new World Junior Record.
Texas A&M got individual wins from junior Kamaria Brown in the 200 (22.63w), sophomore Shelbi Vaughan in the Discus
(6-12/196-11[60.02]), and freshman Shamier Little, who won the first of her 3 titles in the 400-Hurdles (6-13/55.07). The Aggies also won the 4×100(42.80).
Sophomore Courtney Okolo won the 400 (6-13/50.23) and anchored (49.6) Texas to a win in the 4×400 (3:24.21/Meet Record).
Other winners included Oregon senior Laura Roesler in the 800 (6-13/2:01.22), Arizona State junior Shelby Houlihan in the 1500(4:18.10), and Arkansas State’s Sharika Nelvis in the 100-meter Hurdles(12.52w).
Results
Finals
Men: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2014.pdf
Women: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2014w.pdf
Complete: https://www.flashresults.com/2014_Meets/outdoor/06-09-NCAA/
NCAA History
Past Champions(Through 2019)
Men: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/track_outdoor_champs_records/2019/D1Men.pdf
Women: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/track_outdoor_champs_records/2019/D1Women.pdf
USTFCCCA: http://www.ustfccca.org/meets-results/meet-history?series=3369
T&F News
https://trackandfieldnews.com/historical-results/a-history-of-the-ncaa-championships-1921-2018/
2014—The Hammond (IN) H.S. trio of Carey Pinkowski, Rudy Chapa, and Tim Keogh are legendary in high school circles for having run under nine minutes for 2-miles during the 1975 season. But Northport(NY)’s Mikey Brannigan (1st-8:53.59) and twins Tim (3rd-8:56.60) and Jack McGowan (4th-8:57.57) topped that achievement by doing it in the same race at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro,NC.
Read about the role that Craig Virgin played for both teams at:
http://www.runnersworld.com/high-school-profiles/magic-redux
Results: https://www.flashresults.com/2014_Meets/outdoor/6-13-NBON/
