This Day in X-Country/Track & Field–November 13, Olga Fikotová (Connolly) born (1924), Greg Beardsley wins NCAA Div. II in brutal weather (1982), compiled and written by Walt Murphy News & Results

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

This Day in X-Country/T&F–November 13

1982—Edinboro’s Greg Beardsley won the Div.II men’s x-country title in brutal weather in St.Cloud, Minnesota (15f,  6” snow on course)   His 60.9 seconds margin of victory is still the largest since Div.II was established in 1973.

https://eriesportshalloffame.org/inductee/greg-beardsley/

Div.II History(Men): http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_cross_country_champs_records/2023-24/D2.pdf

http://www.ustfccca.org/meets-results/meet-history?series=3370

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men%27s_Division_II_Cross_Country_Championship

Born On This Day

Deceased

5-time Olympian—Discus (’56-gold medalist, ’60-7^th, 1964-12^th),

1968—6^th, 1972-Qual. Round)

5-time U.S. Champion (1957,1960,1962,1964,1968)

Set 4 American Records (best of 185-3 [56.46]/1972)

Won the Olympic gold medal while competing for her native Czechoslavakia. While at the Games

In Melbourne, she fell in love with American Hal Connolly, who won the gold medal in the Men’s

Hammer Throw.  Coming during the Cold War, their love affair made them media darlings

in both countries. Couple was divorced in 1975.

With Czech icons Emil and Dana Zátopek serving as witnesses, the couple got married in Prague in

1957, despite initial objections from the Czech government.

Said Olga, “…admittedly, it was unheard of that anyone would get across the Iron Curtain and get

married, but after much verbal fighting with the administration in Prague, enthusiastic support

from newspapers abroad, and approval by [US. Secretary of State] Mr. Dulles in the U.S.A. and

President Zápotocký in Czechoslovakia we received permission.”

91 (1932-April 12, 2024)

        At 91, she had been the oldest living American female Olympian in T&F at the time of her passing

           In Her Own Words:

           https://www.kcet.org/departures-columns/olga-connolly-an-amazing-olympic-and-american-love-story

           https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77826

           Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Fikotová

           Sports Illustrated Vault: https://vault.si.com/vault/1960/04/18/the-connollys