by Larry Eder
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
This Day in Track & Field–July 1
1882—Lon Myers, a Charter member of the National Hall of Fame, set an American record of 1:11.4 for 600-yards at the American AC Games, which were held at the Polo Grounds in New York. A 2nd U.S. mark was set by S.A. Stafford, who ran 27.4 in the 220y-hurdles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lon_Myers
1886–Harvard’s Wendell Baker ran 10-flat in Boston to equal the unofficial American Record in the 100-yard dash.
(For Subscribers):
1911–Ollie Snedigar set an American Record of 165-8 ¾ (50.50+) in the Javelin at the U.S. Championships in Pittsburgh.
Other winners included Mel Sheppard (880y/1:54.3) and Abel Kiviat (Mile/4:19.6), both of whom set Meet Records.
1930–Herman Brix set an American Record of 52-7 (16.02) in the Shot Put in Vancouver. Brix later changed his name to Bruce Bennett when he became an actor. From his NY Times obituary: “…who played football in the Rose Bowl, set world shot-put records and portrayed Tarzan in the movies before becoming a dapper Hollywood leading man…” (Brix twice bettered the existing world record, but never received official recognition)
Brix Obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/obituaries/02brix.html
1932–Since the U.S. Olympic Trials were scheduled to take place at Stanford later in the month, officials decided to hold the IC4A (Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America) Championships at Cal-Berkeley’s Edwards Stadium (July 1-2). It remains the only time in the now 140+-year history of the meet, which preceded the NCAA Championships as the premier collegiate event in the U.S., that it was held outside of the East. More than 200 Eastern athletes made the long transcontinental train ride and received a warm welcome from their West Coast hosts, which included Stanford’s Ben Eastman, the world record holder in the 440-yard dash. The meet took on added importance in 1932, since the leading finishers would advance to the Olympic Trials.
The biggest shock of the meet, which drew 15,000 fans on the final day of competition (7-2), came when Penn’s Bill Carr came from behind to upset Eastman to win the 440 in 47.0. Carr would go on to win the gold medal over Eastman in the 400 at the Olympic Games in L.A. From the NY Times: “As usual, (Eastman) set a scorching pace, but Carr stayed right on his heels and moved up in the last 100 yards to pass him and win by a stride. Eastman was forced to battle his way through a tangle of runners before he could gain the lead at the 50-yard mark…”(race was not run in lanes). Eastman would come back later in the meet to win his second straight title in the 880y.
Frank Wykoff won the 100y-dash for the 3rd year in a row to lead Southern Cal to its 3rd consecutive team title. Stanford finished 2nd over Yale, while host Cal tied Harvard for 4th.
Other winners who went on to gain Olympic medals that year included Stanford’s Bill Miller, who finished in a 3-way tie for first in the Pole Vault, then won gold in L.A.; Fordham’s Joe McCluskey, who would win the bronze medal in the Steeplechase, won the 2-mile for the 2nd year in a row; NYU’s Peter Zaremba won the bronze in the Hammer; and USC’s Robert Van Osdel, who shared the High Jump title with Columbia’s William O’Connor, won silver in that event in L.A.
Past Winners(1876-1942): http://www.gbrathletics.com/nc/ic4a.htm
1933–Glenn Cunningham won the 1500 at the U.S. Championships in Chicago in 3:52.3, regaining the American Record from Gene Venzke, who had run 3:52.6 less than two weeks earlier. He also won the 800 in 1:51.8.
In other highlights:
Ralph Metcalfe (10.5) won the 2nd of his three straight titles in the 100-meters. He also won the 2nd of his five straight titles in the 200(21.1).
Jesse Owens won the first of his three title in the Long Jump (24-6 3/8 [7.48])
Top 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1933_USA_Outdoor_Track_and_Field_Championships
1942–Sweden’s Gunder Hägg ran 4:06.2 for the Mile in Gothenburg to break the previous World Record of 4:06.4, which had been set by Great Britain’s Sydney Wooderson in 1937. Fellow Swede Arne Andersson matched Wooderson’s mark in 2nd place and tied Hägg’s WR 9 days later!
This was the first of six record-breaking or tying) races by Hägg and Andersson from 1942-1945.
7-1-42–1. Hägg 4:06.2, 2.Andersson 4:06.4
7-10-42–1.Andersson 4:06.2
9-4-42–1. Hägg 4:04.6
7-1-43–1.Andersson 4:02.6
7-18-44–1.Andrsson 4:01.6
7-17-45–1 Hägg 4:01.4, 2.Andersson 4:02.2
This record stood for 9 years until Roger Bannister ran his historic 3:59.4 in 1954.
Hägg Obituary(2004)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E3D71E3EF931A35751C1A9629C8B63
Andersson Obituary(2009):
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile_run_world_record_progression
1960–A 2-day crowd of 108,000 fans flocked to Stanford to witness the U.S. Olympic Trials (men), a meet that Bert Nelson described in Track & Field News as “ …in many ways the greatest track and field contest in history, not excluding the Olympic Games”.
And who could argue with him? Four world records were set and almost every event featured world-class performances and the typical drama that goes with trying to make the U.S. Olympic team.
Boston University’s John Thomas smashed his own week-old World Record of 7-2 (2.185) in the High Jump (July 1), first clearing 7-2 ½ (2.20) and then an amazing 7-3 ¾ (2.23). On the 2nd day (7-2), Stone Johnson set a new mark of 20.5 in his heat of the 200-meters, then finished 2nd in the final to Ray Norton, who equalled Johnson’s mark. The final record fell to the irrepressible Don Bragg, who won the Pole Vault (7-2) with a clearance of 15-9 ¼ (ratified metrically as 4.80).
But the highlight of the meet for the Murphy clan was the 800-meters (7-2), where our “favorite son” Tom (my cousin), emerged as the winner in 1:46.7, a personal best and a time that was only 1 second off the world record at the time.
Many family members were glued to the TV at a birthday party in Brooklyn as the live coverage of the race neared. The 7 finalists lined up in lanes, a first for a meet in the U.S., with Murphy the only one not to use starting blocks.
Stanford’s Ernie Cunliffe, a notorious front-runner, was more cautious during the first 1/2-lap of the final, but got antsy and quickly opened up a big lead on the field. His advantage increased to 12 yards at the head of the final backstretch and I remember screaming at the screen, thinking somehow that my cousin could hear me, “Just finish in the top three–just make the team!”.
But Tom and Cal’s Jerry Siebert weren’t content with just hanging on for a top-3 placing. They soon started to reel in Cunliffe and eventually passed him on the homestretch, one on his inside, the other on his right. Tom, in his usual head-back finish, held off Siebert (1:46.8) for the win, while the battle for the 3rd and final Olympic berth was as close as it can get. Cunliffe and Jim Dupree finished in a virtual dead-heat (1:47.5) and it wasn’t until 2 hours after the race ended that officials gave the nod to Cunliffe!
Results/Notes: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1960.pdf
Sports Illustrated Vault: https://vault.si.com/vault/1960/07/11/the-olympic-heights
WR Progressions:
200: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_200_metres_world_record_progression
High Jump: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_high_jump_world_record_progression
Pole Vault: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_pole_vault_world_record_progression
1962–Al Oerter, already the owner of two of his 4 Olympic gold medals, regained the World Record in the Discus with his throw of 204-10 (62.45) at the USA-Poland match in Chicago. Oerter had become the first man in history to throw farther than 200-feet when he set his first WR of 200-5 in May (61.10), then saw his record broken by the Soviet Union’s Vladimir Trusenyov, who threw 202-3 (61.64) in June.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_discus_world_record_progression
1964–Norway’s Terje Pedersen set a World Record of 285-10 (87.12) with the “old” javelin in Oslo.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_javelin_world_record_progression
1967—While on the West Coast during my “Summer of Love” tour, I went to the Santa Monica Invitational, a tuneup meet for some athletes who would be competing at the upcoming US vs British Commonwealth meet in L.A. Among the highlights–Ralph Boston won the Long Jump (25-10 ¼ [7.88]), Jamaica’s Lennox Miller won the 100y (9.3), Vince Matthews won the 440y (47.1), and Tracy Smith beat Billy Mills in the 2-mile (8:45.8-8:49.2).
1972–I’ve been to many Olympic Trials over the years, but, much to my regret, I missed this one in Eugene. On this day alone, World Records were equaled by Dave Wottle in the 800 (1:44.3), and Eddie Hart and Rey Robinson in the 100-meters (9.9-hand). Dave Smith finished 2nd to John Craft in the Triple Jump, who won with a wind-aided mark of 56-2 (17.12), but came away with an American Record with his legal jump of 56-0 (17.07).
World Record holder Jay Silvester won the Discus (211-2 [64.36]) and went on to win the silver medal in Munich. Also making the team were John Powell (205-10 [62.74]) and Tim Vollmer (202-0 [61.56]).
The 800 was a classic race, with Wottle, using his signature come-from-behind style, winning over Rick Wohlhuter (1:45.0), Ken Swenson(1:45.1), and Jim Ryun(1:45.2), who faded from 1st to 4th in the final homestretch. Close behind Ryun were Ron Phillips (1:45.3), Rick Brown (1:45.4), and Fordham’s Marcel Philippe (1:46.0). Wottle would win gold at the Munich Olympics.
Philippe’s Olympic dreams didn’t end with his 7th-place finish, however. Shortly after the Trials, the native New Yorker approached French officials to see if they wanted him to represent their country at the Munich Olympics, since both of his parents were born there. While he didn’t get to compete in Munich, the process had been set in motion that would allow Philippe to represent France at the 1974 European Championships (semi-finalist/800, finalist/1500) and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal (1st round/800)!
Results/Notes: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1972.pdf
Sports Illustrated: https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/07/10/just-a-guy-having-some-fun
1974–Jim Bolding ran 48.1 in Milan to set an American Record in the 400-meter hurdles. The previous mark of 48.4 had been set by Ralph Mann at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Bolding was world-ranked 5-times by Track & Field News during his career:1972-9, 1973-2, 1974-1, 1975-3, 1976-3.
Obituary(2011): http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?pid=152838466
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Bolding
1975–Sweden’s Anders Gärderud broke his own 6-day old World Record in the Steeplechase (8:10.4) when he ran 8:09.8 in Stockholm.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeplechase_(athletics)
Foto: Jan Collsiöö / SCANPIX / Kod: 1001
1977–Ron Livers jumped 56-4 ¾ (17.19) in Sochi, Russia, to set an American Record in the Triple Jump. He was a 3-time NCAA Champion at San Jose State (1975, 1977, 1978).
1980—Great Britain’s Sebastian Coe set a World Record of 2:13.40 for 1000-meters in Oslo, making him the only man to hold records for the 800, 1000, 1500 and Mile at the same time.
Coe had less than an hour to enjoy that new accolade, since fellow Brit Steve Ovett won the Mile in 3:48.8 to break his World Record of 3:49.0, which was run on the same track in 1979. Finishing 2nd in 3:53.8 was 19-year old Steve Cram, who would get his own World Record of 3:46.32 in 1985.
Ovett went on to beat Coe to win Olympic gold in the 800 in Moscow the following month, while Coe won gold in the 1500(Ovett won the bronze).
WR Progressions
(1000): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_metres_world_record_progression
(mile): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile_run_world_record_progression
1988–Tom Petranoff threw 270-4 (82.40) in Stockholm to set the first of his three American Records with the new javelin. While Petranoff’s marks with the new implement were eventually broken, his American Record of 327-2 (99.72) with the old javelin will probably last forever.
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petranoff
2001—Cuba’s Osleidys Menéndez set a World Record of 234-8 (71.54) in the Javelin in Rethymno, Crete. She went on to win the World title in Edmonton the following month and won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. She improved her World Record to 235-3 (71.70) in 2005.
She recently arrived in Miami after defecting from Cuba, unhappy with the way she was treated after her retirement after the 2012 season. Hopes to become a coach in the U.S.
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_javelin_throw_world_record_progression
Conversion: http://legacy.usatf.org/statistics/calculators/markConversions/index.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osleidys_Menéndez
2012— Eight finals were held on the final day of competition at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon(June 22-July 1).
Making the team(with eventual Olympic medals)
MEN
200-1.Wallace Spearmon 19.82w, 2.Maurice Mitchell 20.14w, 3.Isiah Young 20.16w…4.Calesio Newman 20.17w
1500-1.Leo Manzano (silver) 3:35.75, 2.Matthew Centrowitz 3:35.84, 3.Andrew Wheating 3:36.68
400-Meter Hurdles-1.Michael Tinsley (silver) 48.33, 2.Angelo Taylor 48.57, 3.Kerron Clement 48.89…4.Bershawn Jackson
48.94
WOMEN
1500-1.Morgan Uceny 4:04.59, 2.Shannon Rowbury 4:05.11, 3.Jenny Simpson 4:05.17
400-Meter Hurdles-1.Lashinda Demus (Gold) 53.98, 2.Georgeanne Moline 54.33, 3.T’Erea Brown 54.81
Long Jump-1.Brittney Reese (gold) 23-5 ½ (7.15), 2.Chelsea Hayes 23-3 ½ (7.10), 3.Janay DeLoach 23-2 3/4w (7.08)
Javelin-1.Brittany Borman 201-9 (61.51), 2.Kara Patterson-Winger 196-2 (59.79), 4.Rachel Yurkovich 186-6
(56.85)…3.Kim Hamilton 190-5 (58.04/didn’t have an “A” qualifier)
20k Walk-1.Maria Michta 1:34:53.4
Results/Notes: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2012.pdf
LetsRun Coverage: https://www.letsrun.com/2012/ustrialscoverage.php
2016—Galen Rupp (27:55.4), who had already made the U.S. team with his win at the Marathon Trials in February, won the Men’s 10,000-meters on the first day of track action at the U.S. Olympic T&F Trials (July 1-10) in Eugene, Oregon. He was joined on the team by Shadrack Kipchirchir (28:01.52) and Leonard Korir (28:10.97), both natives of Kenya, and both members of the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program. It was Rupp’s 8th straight U.S. title in the 10,000. He would win the bronze medal in the Marathon at the Rio Olympics.
Ryan Crouser (72-6 ½ [22.11] gave a hint of things to come at the Rio Olympics, where he won gold, by winning the Men’s Shot Put over Joe Kovacs (72-1/4 [21.95]) and Darrell Hill (70-11 ¾[21.63].
Results: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2016.pdf
U.S. Olympic Trials History: https://trackandfieldnews.com/usa-olympic-trials-history/
U.S. National Championships History: https://trackandfieldnews.com/u-s-national-championships-history/
Past U.S. Champions: https://www.flipsnack.com/USATF/usatf-outdoor-champions/full-view.html
2021—Competing in front of a friendly crowd in Oslo, Norway’s Karsten Warholm won the 400-Meter Hurdles in 46.70, breaking Kevin Young’s 29-year old World Record of 46.78.
Warholm would take the record down to an other-worldly 45.94 a month later while winning Olympic gold in Tokyo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgRD11n4vT0
https://worldathletics.org/news/report/warholm-world-400m-hurdles-record-oslo-4670
Herculis EBS
July 21, 2023, Monaco, photo by Kevin Morris
Born On This Day*
Donald Thomas—Bahamas 41 (1984) 5-time Olympian finished 7th in Rio in 2016–didn’t make the final in 2008, 2012,
2021, 2024
Has competed in 9 World Championships: ‘07(1st), ‘09(qual.), ‘11(11th), ‘13(6th), ‘15(6th), ‘17(qual.), ‘19(qual.),
‘22(qual.), ‘23(qual.)
Cleared 7-9 ¼ (2.37) in 2016 to finally better his 9-year old personal best of 7-8 ½ (2.35)!
Won the gold medal at the 2007 World Championships a year after trying the event for the first
time…was a basketball player at Lindenwood University, an NAIA school in Missouri, when some
friends on the track team said he couldn’t clear 6-7. Jumping in his basketball shoes, he not
only cleared 6-7, he cleared 7-feet that night…two days later, he cleared 7-3 1/4 to win his
first meet for Lindenwood….used his final year of collegiate eligibility as a grad student at
Auburn…won the 2007 NCAA Division One Indoor title and went on to win the World title in Osaka.
Now 41, he has a best of 7-5 3/4 (2.28) in 2025! (co-holder of the World Masters Record (40-45)
PBs: 7-9 ¼ (2.37 [2016]), 7-7 3/4i (2.33/2007);
WC Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzmPtZyuo4s
…
