This Day in Track & Field, January 5, Houston McTear wins 60 in unbelievable time at Muhammed Ali Invite (1980), by Walt Murphy

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-January 5

1957–NYU’s Denny Gatto beat some big names to win the 600y (1:12.5) at the Metropolitan AAU meet at the 168th Street Armory in NY. Finishing behind Gatto were Tom Courtney (1:12.9), the 1956 Olympic 800-meter champion, Steve Bartold(1:13.2) of St.John’s, the future coach at his alma mater and Yale, and Manhattan College junior Tom Murphy, who went on to make the 1960 U.S. Olympic team in the 800-meters. Former Villanova star Fred Dwyer won the Mile, then finished 2nd in the 3-Mile to Horace Ashenfelter, the 1952 Olympic steeplechase champion.

Gatto’s victory was #75 on the Armory’s list of “100 Greatest Moments” (compiled in 2008)

http://tinyurl.com/zqkwp93

1980–Houston McTear ran so fast for 60-meters at the Muhammad Ali Inv. in Long Beach(Ca.) that  his time was never recognized as a World Record. McTear had set the existing record of 6.54 at this same meet in 1978 and appeared to have bettered that mark when he ran 6.53 in his heat. But suspicions about the timing and/or the distance arose after he won the final in an incredible 6.38, followed by three others who were faster than the previous record–Harvey Glance (6.41), Steve Riddick (6.51) and Cliff Wiley (6.52).  (The current World Record is 6.34/the IAAF/World Athletics didn’t officially recognize indoor WRs until 1987)

Officials insisted that the race distance was correct and the timing system worked properly, but the record-keepers eventually decided that the times were too much of a good thing and decided not to recognize them as “legitimate”.

Also losing a record was Evelyn Ashford, who won the women’s sprint in 7.04, which was faster than the listed mark of 7.12.

There were some marks in the meet that did stand up to scrutiny. Steve Scott won the 3000-meters in 7:45.2 to break Steve Prefontaine’s American Record of 7:50.0; Craig Masback, the former CEO of USATF, won the men’s 1500 over Sydney Maree (3:45.8-3:46.0); Franklin Jacobs(7-5 ½[2.275]) beat Dwight Stones(7-4 ¼[2.24]) to win the high jump; and Jan Merrill edged New Jersey prep Joetta Clark to win the women’s 800(2:09.6-2:09.8).

Stones had recently been reinstated as an amateur after being tabbed a “professional” for his participation in the Superstars shows.

Also returning to action were former members of the ITA professional circuit, such as Rod Milburn and John Smith.

From Track and Field News)

Sports Illustrated Vault—Oldies but Goodies

1984—Running barefoot, 17-year old Zola Budd clocked 15:01.83 for 5000-Meters in Stellenbosch, South Africa. That was faster than the existing World Record of 15:08.26 that had been set by Mary Decker-Slaney in 1982, but the mark was never ratified because her native South Africa was under suspension by the IAAF at the time, due to the country’s apartheid policy.

Budd, whose paternal grandfather was born in England, would soon gain British citizenship, enabling her to compete at the L.A. Olympics later in the year, where she would be involved in the collision that caused Decker-Slaney to fall in the final of the 3000-meters!

Race Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1f1R2HKMo

https://vault.si.com/vault/1984/04/09/a-flight-to-a-stormy-haven

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zola_Budd

Significant Birthdays

Born on This Day*

Mohammed “Moh” Ahmed—Canada 34 (1991)  2021 Olympic silver medalist-5000m

Bronze medalist in the 5000 at the 2019 World Championships

Other global placings

Olympics: 2012 (10,000/18^th), 2016 (5000/4^th, 10,000/32^nd), 2021 (10,000/6^th), 2024 (10,000/4^th)

Worlds: 2013 (10,000/9^th), 2015 (5000/12^th), 2017 (5000/6^th, 10,000/8^th), 2019 (10,000/6^th), 2022 (5000/5^th,

10,000/6^th), 2023 (5000/7^th, 10,000/6^th)

All-American at Wisconsin: NCAA-2010 (10,000-4^th), 2012 (5000-7^th), 2013 (5000i-5^th), 2014 (5000-5^th)

Canadian Record holder: 3000 (ind/out), 2-Miles (ind), 5000 (in&out), 10,000

PBs: 3:34.89 (‘20), 3:53.87 (‘21), 7:40.11i (‘16), 7:31.96 (’24), 8:13.16i/2m (‘17), 12:56.87i (’22), 12:47.20 (‘20),

26:34.14 (’22)

        2024 SBs: 3:37.92, 4:02.93, 7:31.96, 12:54.22, 26:43.79

Native of Somalia moved to Canada with his family when he was 11 years old

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Ahmed_(runner)

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/120195

https://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/canadas-mo-ahmed-wins-olympic-silver-in-5000m

https://olympic.ca/team-canada/mohammed-ahmed/

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/trackandfield/moh-ahmed-sibling-rivalry-tokyo-olympics-1.5806973

High School Days: https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/rio-2016/throwback-thursday-olympian-mohammed-ahmed/

Patrik Sjöberg—Sweden  60 (1965) 1987 World Champion—High Jump

2-time Olympic silver medalist—1984,1992 (1988-bronze)

2-time medalist—World Indoor Championships (1989-bronze, 1993-silver)

        Set a World Record of 7-11  ¼ in 1987 (2.42/now =#3 All-Time World)

Set two World Indoor Records: 1985 (7-9  ¾[2.38]), 1987 (7-10  ¾[2.41]/now =#3 A-T World)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrik_Sjöberg;

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/76381

WR Video(2.40): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo56swo_FFc

WR Progressions:

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_high_jump_world_record_progression

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_high_jump_indoor_world_record_progression

Metric Converter: https://www.usatf.org/statistics/calculators/markConversions/index.html

Kathrine Switzer  78 (1947)  One of the pioneers of women’s distance running

By signing her entry form for the 1967 race, “K. V. Switzer”, which is the way she had always signed her name since she was 12-

years old, she became the first woman to receive a number in the Boston Marathon, which, at the time, only accepted entries

from men. By her own estimate, she finished in 4:20:00. Her entry gained national attention after race director Jock Semple

tried to force her off the course early in the race, only to be blocked by her boyfriend at the time.

In 1978, she organized the inaugural Avon International Marathon, which drew many of the world’s best female distance runners to

Atlanta. The success of the race (and subsequent editions), along with the help of others, eventually helped lead to the

addition of the women’s 3000 and Marathon at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Winner of the 1974 NY City Marathon…ran her personal best of 2:51:37 at the 1975 Boston Marathon

Her husband, journalist Roger Robinson, has been writing about the running scene for many years.

In her Own Words: http://kathrineswitzer.com/about-kathrine/1967-boston-marathon-the-real-story/

http://kathrineswitzer.com/

50 Years Later

NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/17/sports/boston-marathon-kathrine-switzer.html?_r=0

www.nbcnews.com/feature/inspiring-america/first-woman-officially-run-boston-marathon-makes-triumphant-return-n747616

CNN Interview: http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/17/us/boston-marathon-kathrine-switzer-trnd/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KVSwitzer?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

http://www.261fearless.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avon_International_Marathon

https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/34430-avon-women-the-olympics-driving-a-marathon-revolution

http://www.marathonguide.com/history/olympicmarathons/chapter25.cfm

Deceased

Ed Collymore  85 (1938-May 7, 2023) 1958 NCAA Champion—220y (Villanova/1957-3^rd/1958-100y/5^th)

Member of the Villanova team that won the 1957 NCAA team title—team, referred to by some as “The Greatest

Ever”, included past and future Olympic gold medalists (with their NCAA placing) Charlie Jenkins (’56-

400, 4×400/3^rd in the 440y), Ron Delany (’56-1500/1^st-mile, 2^nd-880y), and Don Bragg (’60-Pole  Vault/2nd).

Also on the team were two other Olympians—High Jumper Phil Reavis (’56) and distance runner Alex

Breckenridge (’60)—Reavis tied for 3^rd at the NCAA meet, was 7^th at the Olympics/Breckenridge was 4^th in the

NCAA 2-mile, competed in the marathon at the 1960 Olympics  …Jenkins was Collymore’s teammate at Rindge

Tech (Ma) H.S. for two years.

Winner of 6 Penn Relays watches

1957–Mile relay, Distance Medley

1958–Mile Relay, Sprint Medley, Distance Medley

1959—Mile Relay

https://www.debaptiste.com/obituary/edward-collymore-sr

https://exhibits.library.villanova.edu/black-villanova-oral-history-project/ed-collymore-class-1959/

Penn Relays Wall of Fame: https://pennrelays.com/honors/hall-of-fame/ed-collymore/65

Best NCAA Team Ever?: http://villanovarunning.blogspot.com/2010/01/was-this-best-villanova-track-team.html

1957 Results: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1957.pdf

Walt “Buddy” Davis 89 (1931-Nov.17, 2020)  1952 Olympic gold medalist—High Jump; overcame polio.

1952 co-NCAA Champion (Texas A&M/1951/=2^nd)

2-time U.S. Champion (1952,1953);

Played 5 seasons in the NBA  (6’8  ½” [2.04])

https://12thman.com/news/2020/11/19/general-athletics-hall-of-famer-walter-buddy-davis-passes-away.aspx

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78302

Video: http://www.kangarootrackclub.org/walter-buddy-davis.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/daviswa01.html

Al Blozis  26 (1919-Jan.31, 1945) 3-time NCAA Champion—Shot Put (Georgetown/1940-1942)

In addition, he won every other title open to him from 1940-1942, winning 3 IC4A Indoor and Outdoor titles, 3 U.S.

Indoor titles, and 3 U.S. Outdoor titles.

He was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 2015 and was an All-Pro tackle with the NY Giants.

Only 26 at the time, he was killed in action in 1945 during World War II.

            HOF Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/al-blozis

https://www.giants.com/video/memorial-day-tribute-al-blozis-18011337

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Blozis

Buddy Young 57 (1926-Sep.5, 1983) 1944 NCAA Champion—100y, 220y (Illinois freshman)…also finished 2^nd in the

Long Jump to help Illinois win the team title

Only 5’-4” (1.625), Young had already excelled as a standout running back/receiver for Illinois during the 1943

football season. Before the season concluded, he scored 10 touchdowns, equaling the Big Ten Conference

record established by the immortal Red Grange in 1924.

Drafted by the Navy in 1945, Young played on a service football team before returning to Illinois, where he helped

the team beat UCLA in the 1947 Rose Bowl. He then played professional football for 10 years, closing out his

career with the Baltimore Colts. He died tragically in an auto accident in 1983 at the age of 57. He was the

NFL’s Director of Player Relations at the time of his death.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Young

https://fightingillini.com/honors/hall-of-fame/claude-buddy-young/81

http://www.myblackhistory.net/ClaudeYoung.htm

96-yard TD Run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZA0g_sQcqY

https://www.thesportscol.com/2018/10/buddy-young-stood-out-without-standing-tall/

Jack Lovelock-New Zealand 39 (1910-Dec.28, 1949)   1936 Olympic gold medalist—1500 Meters-

set a World Record of 3:47.8 in the final (1932-7^th).

Set a World Record of 4:07.6 for the mile in 1934.

1934 British Empire Games (Commonwealth) Champion—Mile

From Olympedia: Lovelock had graduated from Oxford with a medical degree and settled in the

United States where he practiced at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, after

serving in the Royal Medical Corps during World War II. Lovelock tragically died in 1949, when

he suffered a dizzy spell and fell on subway tracks in New York, where he was hit by a

moving train.

His Victory Oak from the Berlin Olympics was planted at Timaru Boys’ School in New Zealand where it

survives as a  nationally protected landmark.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Lovelock

http://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=77

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/74322

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/jack-lovelock

Video(1936 OG/commentary by Harold Abrahams of Chariots of Fire fame):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr0ihgPjo3k

The Man, The Myth, The Mistery

Harold “Hal” Davis  86 (1921-August 12, 2007)  Former Cal Bear won the 100y & 220y at the 1942 & 1943 NCAA Championships

3-time U.S. Champion-100m (1940, 1942, 1943)

4-time U.S. Champion-200m/straight (1940-1943)

Would have been considered one of the favorites in both sprints if the 1940 and 1944 Olympics hadn’t been cancelled due to

WWII

The “California Comet” equalled the World Record of 10.2 for 100-meters in 1941

Also equalled the WR of 9.4 for 100-yards in 1942, but the mark was not ratified

Inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1974

         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Davis_(sprinter)

https://calbears.com/honors/california-athletics-hall-of-fame/hal-davis/89