by RBR Admin
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 10
1953–Reggie Pearman won the Senior Mets 600y at NY’s Armory in 1:11.7, equaling the meet record set by the legendary Jimmy Herbert in 1942.
Pearman defeated Vern Dixon of Manhattan College and Herb McKenley and Mal Whitfield of the Grand Street Boys. McKenley had been a member of the Olympic-champion Jamaican 4×4 team, which had set the world record in defeating the Americans in 1952, while Whitfield was a two-time Olympic champion in the 800 (1948-1952).
They were just 2 of 6 past and future Olympic champions competing that evening, in a meet that was ranked #10 in the “100 Greatest Moments in Armory History” (Compiled in 2008).
Others included Lindy Remigino of Manhattan, Olympic champion in the 100 and 4×1; Andy Stanfield, gold medalist in the 200 and 4×1; Horace Ashenfelter, Sullivan Award winner and Olympic champion in the steeplechase; and Tom Courtney, who ran a leg for Fordham in the 2-mile relay, the Olympic champion in the 800 in ’56;
Other1952 medalists included Meredith Gourdine, like Pearman a member of Joe Yancey’s NY Pioneer Club, silver in the LJ; and Jimmy Gathers, bronze in the 200. Other notables included walkers Henry Laskau (3 Olympics) and Rudy Haluza (2 Games); the actor Roscoe Lee Browne, who won the 1,000 that night for the Pioneers, and Tom Murphy, a future Olympian (1960) in the 800 who anchored the St. Augustine HS 2-mile relay team to victory.
Pearman, an NYU grad and legendary indoor star, made the Olympic 800 final in ’52 and was a member of a world-record 4×880 that year; Herbert, who set the world indoor record in the 600 in 1940, anchored NYU’s winning Penn Relays mile relay in 1940.
1959—High Jumper John Thomas, a 17-year old freshman at Boston University, set the first of his 6 World Indoor Records of the season by clearing 6-11 (2.11) in Hanover,NH. He would become the first man to clear 7-feet indoors at the Millrose Games later in the month.
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_high_jump_indoor_world_record_progression
1975–In a nice early-season matchup of two stars, Marty Liquori overtook Steve Prefontaine with a lap to go to win the Mile at the CYO Invitational on the Maryland campus in College Park,MD (3:57.7-3:58.6). Finishing 5th in 4:04.2 was Villanova junior Eamonn Coghlan.
Other highlights included the Women’s 880y, where Cheryl Toussaint beat Francie Larrieu (2:08.0-2:09.5), and the Men’s High Jump, won by Dwight Stones with a clearance of 7-3 (2.21m).
George Watts (Edison,Va), the current coach at East Tennessee State, won the High School Mile in 4:23.1
Mile Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM8i-KZvH0E
Liquori’s Career: http://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=241
Track at Cole Field House: https://umdarchives.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/track-glory-at-cole-field-house/
H.S. Results: https://mocorunning.com/meet.php?meet_id=6680
1976–For the 3rd time in his career, Belgium’s Emiel Puttemans lowered the World Indoor Record in the 5,000-meters, this time running 13:20.8 in Paris to better his previous mark of 13:24.8. His en-route time of 12:54.6 also gave him his 3rd World Record at 3-miles.
WR Progression(scroll down): https://www.arrs.run/RecProg/RP_wwT.htm
http://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=227
1993-It was a record that had withstood many challenges over the years, most notably by strong teams from Mike Barnow’s Westchester TC, but Villanova’s 17-year old World Record in the 4-mile relay (16:19.0) finally fell at the Dartmouth Relays, with the N.Y. Athletic Club setting a new mark of 16:16.67.
The NYAC had been frustrated in recent attempts to break the mark, but coach Paul Mascali was determined that the record would fall this year. His plan was to put two strong teams on the track to push each other during the first two critical legs, but minor ailments eliminated Charles Marsala and the great Eamonn Coghlan (who was 40 at the time), who were to run on the “B” team, as well as Rich Kenah, who was slated to run on the “A” team.
After some scrambling to find suitable replacements, the A.C. got the reasonably good start it wanted, with “A” runners Brad Horton (4:07.2) and Jeff Smith (4:07.3) being pushed by Mike O’Connor (4:07.3) and Rick Wemple (4:07.4). It looked for awhile like the record might survive for another year, but Brad Schlapak took off after the first half of the 3rd leg, and his 4:02.8 split put the club back in the hunt. That left it up to ex-Princeton star Bill Burke, who responded to the challenge by anchoring the record-setters with a 3:59.4 carry.
Significant Birthdays
Born On This Day*
Faith Kipyegon-Kenya 31 (1994) 3-time Olympic gold medalist—1500m (2016, 2021, 2024); Silver medalist in the 5000
in 2024
Also a 4-time World Champion: 2017 (1500), 2022 (1500), 2023 (1500, 5000)…Silver medalist in the 1500 in
2015 & 2019); Also won a team gold at the 2017 World X-Country Championships
2011 World Youth Champion-1500m; 2012 World Junior/Under-20 Champion-1500m
Had a memorable season in 2023:
June 2—Set a World Record of 3:49.11–1500-meters…improved the record to 3:49.04 in 2024
June 9—Set a World Record of 14:05.20—5000-meters (now #2 all-time)…beat Letesenbet Gidey, the previous
record holder
July 21—Set a World Record of 4:07.64–Mile
August 22/26—Won the 1500 and 5000 at the World Championships in Budapest
September 16—Won the 1500 at the Diamond League Final in Eugene—ran 3:50.72, 5th fastest time ever (at the
time)
Member of the Kenyan team that set a World Record of 16:33.58 in the 4×1500 at the 2014 World Relays in Nassau
(Mercy Cherono-4:07.5, Faith Kipyegon-4:08.5, Irene Jelagat-4:10.5, Hellen Obiri-4:07.1)
Other PBs: 1:57.68 (2020), 2:29.15 (2020/#2 All-Time World), 8:23.55 (2014);
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/127094 (Through 2023)
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Kipyegon
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/brussels-diamond-league-2015-ghribi-kipyegon
https://spikes.worldathletics.org/post/faith-kipyegons-top-tips
Videos: 2016 OG 2017 WC 2021 OG 2022 WC 2023 WC-1500 2023 WC-5000
2024 OG-1500 2024 OG 5000 WRs: 1500 Mile 5000 (last 4 laps)
Let There Be Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax–36AAqSY
All-Time Lists: https://trackandfieldnews.com/tfn-lists/world-all-time-list-women/
Obea Moore 46 (1979) Considered one of the greatest U.S. High School runners in history
1996 U.S. and World Junior Champion-400m, set the current World Youth Record of 45.14 in 1995 as a 15-year
old. Also ran 1:49.16 for 800-meters in 1995.
Named the 1996 Male H.S. Athlete of the Year by Track & Field News. Had 8 races under 46-seconds in 1996 (best
of 45.27/1:50.05-800).
Named to the Penn Relays Wall of Fame in 2015. His 45.1 anchor helped Muir(CA) H.S. set a Relays Record of
3:08.72 in the 4×400 in 1997. Record lasted until 2017…also anchored (46.0) the winning team in 1996.
Semi-finalist at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials
Never improved on his high school performances.
Whatever Happened to Obea Moore?
1996 Penn Relays(19:52): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX469TdTzZI
Trailer: http://www.flotrack.org/video/777671-what-happened-to-obea-moore-trailer
https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack/videos/10154182112694445/
Available to FloPro Subscribers
http://www.flotrack.org/video/787101-what-happened-to-obea-moore-the-beginning-of-the-end-ep-1
http://www.flotrack.org/video/791391-what-happened-to-obea-moore-the-conclusion-ep-2
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obea_Moore
Chandra Cheeseborough 66 (1959) 1984 Olympic gold medalist-4×100, 4×400, 1984 Olympic silver medalist-400m;
Made the 1976 U.S. Olympic team in between her junior and senior year in high school. Finished 6th in the 100, 7th in
the 4×100
1976 U.S. Champion-100m; PBs: 11.13 (1983), 21.99 (1984), 49.05 (1984)
Assistant Coach-1988 Olympics; Director of T&F-Tennessee State, her alma mater
16 at the time, she won the 200 at the 1975 Pan-American Games in Mexico City–Set a U.S. High School Record of
22.77 that lasted for 17 years.
Named to the National Hall of Fame in 2000
Member of the inaugural class that was inducted into the National H.S. Hall of Fame in 2018
https://tsutigers.com/sports/womens-track-and-field/roster/coaches/chandra-cheeseborough-guice/521
Hall of Fame(2000): https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/chandra-cheeseborough
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77788 (Through 2023)
H.S. Hall of Fame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdjrGvsL8Ms
Acceptance Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTjqGaxy_TA
Earl McCullough 79 (1946) 2-time NCAA Champion—120y-hurdles (USC/1967,1968)
Former World Record holder in the 110-hurdles (13.2/1967)
Member of the USC team that set a World Record of 38.6 in the 440-relay at the 1967 NCAA
Championships in Provo, Utah (McCullough, Fred Kuller, O.J. Simpson, Lenox Miller)
Passed up a chance to make the 1968 U.S. Olympic team to pursue his NFL career as a wide receiver for the Detroit
Lions (1968-1973).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_McCullouch
2008 Article: https://www.dailynews.com/2008/12/18/krikorian-mccullouch-is-enjoying-the-good-life/
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCuEa00.htm
Jerome Drayton 80 (1945) 3-time winner of the Fukuoka Marathon (1969,1975,1976)
Winner of the 1977 Boston Marathon
2-time Olympian—1968 (DNF), 1976 (6th)
His Canadian Record of 2:10:09 stood for 43 years until Cam Levins ran 2:09:25 in 2018
PBs: 13:34.92 (1975), 28:13.74 (1975), 2:10:09 (1975)
Born in Germany, he competed early in his career under his given name of Peter Buniak. Changed his name in 1969.
Despite his success in the marathon, he preferred racing on the track. “Actually, I don’t really like marathons. I only do
’em because it happens to be my best event”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Drayton
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/65981
Post-Boston Interview:
Losing His NR:
Bio (Scroll Down): https://onceuponatimeinthevest.blogspot.com/2023/07/v-13-n-66-why-was-j-d-martins-15-9-34.html
Bill Toomey 86 (1939) 1968 Olympic Champion and former World Record holder-Decathlon
5-time U.S. Champion (1965-1969)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79133
https://www.olympic.org/news/toomey-s-law-of-averages-leads-to-decathlon-gold
2012 Article: https://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/a-bit-of-olympic-glory-right-here-in-davis/
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Toomey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_1968_Summer_Olympics_–_Men%27s_decathlon
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decathlon_world_record_progression
’68 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgbRCSOJebk
Deceased
George Orton-Canada/USA 85 (1873-June 24, 1958) The native of Canada represented the University of Pennsylvania
when he won the gold medal in the 2500-meter Steeplechase at the 1900 Olympics(45 minutes after winning
the bronze medal in the 400-hurdles!—was also 5th in the 4000m-Steeplechase/athletes didn’t compete for
their country until the 1908 Olympics—see below),
6-time U.S. Champion—Mile (1892-1896, 1900)
7-time U.S. Champion—2-Mile Steeplechase (1893,1894,1896-1899, 1901)
2-time U.S. X-Country Champion (1897,1898)
Also won road race titles at 5(?)- and 10-miles
Ran the 2nd leg on Penn’s Mile Relay that finished 2nd to Harvard at the 1st Penn Relays in 1895. Anchored Penn to a
win in the 5(!)-mile relay in 1896. Later took over as the Relays “Manager” (The term “Director” wasn’t
used until 1956). Was also the coach at Penn.
Did his undergraduate work at the University of Toronto. He was then offered a scholarship to the University of
Pennsylvania in 1893 to complete his Masters (1894) and Ph.D.in Philosophy (1896).
Would become known as the Father of Philadelphia hockey!
(Other sources list his DOB as June 24 or June 26)
From Wikipedia:
“Unlike today, the early Olympic athletes did not represent their birth country at these competitions. Nationality
was unimportant. They ran as individuals, or members of a university delegation or athletic club. Including the name
of a country alongside a competitor’s name did not begin until the 1908 Olympics. At the time, the IOC
retroactively added a nationality alongside the names of previous performers, and that is how Orton became known
as an American. Next to his name in the record books it read “George Orton-U.S.A. The mistake would go
unnoticed for over 70 years before the IOC took those medals away from the U.S tally and awarded them,
correctly, to Canada’s medal total. Orton is also the first disabled athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. For many
years, he managed to hide his disability, a “dead” right arm and hand, permanently damaged in a childhood
accident.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orton
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/66202
https://www.english.upenn.edu/people/george-washington-orton
https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=568
