by Larry Eder
This Day in Track & Field–October 8
1881—Running on a 640y track in NY City, Lon Myers won the 1000-yards in 2:13.0 and improved his World Record
in the 880y to 1:53.6 along the way. Myers is a charter member of the National Hall of Fame.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lon_Myers
https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20846307/rise-of-a-running-nation/
2006—The Netherlands’ Lornah Kiplagat set a World Record of 1:03:21 for 20,000-Meters at the inaugural IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen, Hungary.
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/lornah-the-lion-fearless-and-now-first-de
2017—Galen Rupp became the first American since 2002 to win the Chicago Marathon (2:09:20). Former Stanford All-American Chris Derrick finished 9th in 2:12:50.
Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba won the Women’s division in 2:18:31 over Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei (2:20:22), with Jordan Hasay finishing 3rd with a personal best time of 2:20:57. Kosgei would win the race the next two years, setting a World Record of 2:14:04 in 2019.
From Runner’s World:
It’s Rupp’s fourth marathon, his best time and first World Marathon Majors victory. He crossed the finish line with a smile, greeted by his wife, Keara, and three young children. “My wife has given up her life to support me and my kids. I work my butt off, and I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like. So it’s a real emotional thing,” Rupp said. “You put so much into this one race—to see them at the finish line, to see them happy, it means the world to me.”
Top 10: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Chicago_Marathon
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/mens-chicago-marathon-winner-2017-449972823.html
Videos
Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9zHTc8K-lI
Full Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRwNLIOlIKg
Past Winners: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winners_of_the_Chicago_Marathon
2023–And the beat goes on. Two weeks after Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa stunned the running world by setting a Women’s World Record of 2:11:53 in the Berlin, a new chapter was added to this new era of marathoning (thanks to the “super-shoes”?) when Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum ran 2:00.35 in Chicago to break Eliud Kipchoge’s World Record of 2:01:09!
It was the 3rd marathon win in less than a year for the 23-year old, who made his debut at the distance last December in Valencia, Spain, where he ran 2:01.53. He also won in London 6 months earlier with a time of 2:01:25, giving him a 3-race average of 2:01:13! Only Kipchoge has ever run faster in one race. Sadly, Kiptum and his coach died in an auto accident in February, 2024.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5683525/2024/08/09/kelvin-kiptum-tragedy-olympics/
For a good part of the Women’s race, it looked like Assefa’s record might also fall, either to 2-time defending champion Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya or the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan, who was racing just six weeks after competing in the 1500 (bronze), 5000 (silver), and 10,000 (fell just before the finish while leading) at the World Championships in Budapest.
The pace eventually slowed a bit, with Chepngetich looking like she might win for the 3rd year in a row, but Hassan then took control of the race and went on to win in 2:13:44, a Course Record and the 2nd-fastest time in history! Chepngetich held on to finish 2nd in 2:15:37.
It was a good day for Americans, who took 4 of the top-10 places in the Men’s race, and 3 in the Women’s race.
Leading the way for the men were training partners and former BYU teammates Conner Mantz (6th-2:07:47) and Clayton Young (7th-2:08:00), both of whom ran personal bests and bettered the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:08:10. 8th was Galen Rupp (2:08:48) and 9th was Sam Chelanga (2:08:50PB).
(BYU’s Ed Eyestone, who still coaches Mantz and Young, was part of the announcing crew for the local NBC affiliate that covered the race—along with Carrie Tollefson).
Emily Sisson, who set the American Record of 2:18:29 in last year’s race, finished 7th (2:22:09) in the Women’s race, followed by Molly Seidel, the 2021 Olympic bronze medalist, in 8th with a personal best of 2:23:07, and Sara Vaughn in 10th (2:23:24PB). Emma Bates finished 12th in 2:25:04 (see below).
David Monti’s Report: https://chicago-marathon.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=187&do=news&news_id=667074
LetsRun Coverage: https://www.letsrun.com/events/2023/10/2023-bank-of-america-chicago-marathon
CitiusMag provided commentary and showed splits during its “Watch Party”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5l4unoHDNc
Emma Bates on Instagram: “Got to halfway right where we wanted, just under 1:09:30. I got to the next water stop and stepped weird and messed up my plantar (which I was already having some troubles with). From mile 16 on I was hobbling around, stopped twice, and slowed significantly from the pain.”
Born On This Day*
Josh Kerr–Great Britain/Scotland 28 (1997) 2023 World Champion-1500m (Beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen)…was hoping to
defend his title in Tokyo in 2025, but suffered a calf injury when he fell at the end of his semi-final race, and then
limped home in the final after the injury flared up again (14th-4:11.23)…5th at the 2022 World Championships,
6th in 2019
2-time Olympic medalist—2021 (bronze), 2024 (silver—set a National Record of 3:27.79 in the final)
3-time NCAA Champion—2017 (mile[i], 1500), 2018 (mile[i])-New Mexico
2015 European Junior Champion (1500)
2023 Millrose Games winner at 3000-meters, won the 2-mile at the 2024 Millrose Games, setting a World Indoor
Record of 8:00.67
Won the Bowerman Mile at the 2024 Pre Classic—beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen and set a National Record of 3:45.34
Ran 3:35.01 for 1500-meters in 2018 to break the 37-year old Collegiate Record of 3:35.30, set by
Villanova’s Sydney Maree in 1981 (Now #4 All-Time)
Broke another of Maree’s records when he won the 2024 5th Avenue Mile in 3:44.3…Maree set the previous record
of 3:47.52 in 1981
PBs:
800: 1:45.01 (2025)
1000: 2:17.60 (2020)
1500: 3:27.79 (2024/#8 All-Time)
1500i: 3:32.86i (#14-All-Time)
Mile: 3:45.34 (2024/#6 All-Time)
Mile(i): 3:48.87i (2022/#10 All-Time),
3000i: 7:30.14i (2024)
2-Mile: 8:00.67i (2024/World Record, #3 All-Time Overall)
5000: 13:23.78 (2021)
2025 SBs: 3:29.37, 13:44.73
Videos: 2023 WC Post-race 2024 OG w/Intros 2024 Pre Millrose 2m 2025 WC (SF)
Reese Hoffa 48 (1977) 2007 World Champion—Shot Put; 2006 World Indoor Champion
2012 Olympic bronze medalist (2008-5th, 2004-Qual.round)
4th at the 2009, 2011, and 2013 World Championships (2015-5th); 5th at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials
PB: 73-7 ¼ (22.43/2007/#12 All-Time U.S.); Retired after the 2016 season.
Ranked among the top-10 in the world 13 years in a row (2003-2015/#1 four times)
All-American at Georgia: NCAA 2000-4, 2001-3
Wearing a Mexican wrestling mask, he competed as the “Unknown shot-putter” early in his career!
Catching Up (May, 2020):
https://ga.milesplit.com/articles/280236/where-are-they-now-world-champion-reese-hoffa
Man of many talents:
Rubik’s Cube Expert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzgZ_Z0Ajms;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OHM3r07eJc
Juggler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY4mAWA84m8
https://twitter.com/hoffathrows?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://www.iaaf.org/news/news/hoffas-talent-is-unmasked
2007 WC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvw8WtSKmZw
Tatiana Grigorieva—Russia/Australia-50 (1975)—2000 Olympic silver medalist—Pole Vault
Lost a dramatic battle for the gold medal in Sydney to Stacy Dragila on the same night that Australian Cathy
Freeman won the women’s 400
Bronze medalist at the 1999 World Championships (2001-4th, 2005-12th)
2002 Commonwealth Games Champion
Former 400-hurdler (PB-58.54) didn’t take up pole vaulting until she moved from Russia to Australia in 1997.
Became very popular in Australia after winning Olympic silver and Commonwealth gold. PB:15-1/4 (4.58/2006)
Performed on Australia’s Dancing With The Stars (see DWTS link)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/83258
http://athletics.com.au/News/tatiana-grigorieva
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatiana_Grigorieva
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletics_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_pole_vault
DWTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mat2tAl8vo
Koji Murofushi—Japan 51 ( 1974) 2004 Olympic gold medalist—Hammer Throw (2012-Bronze, 2008-5th, 2000-
Qual.round);
2011 World Champion (silver-’01, Bronze-’03/’97-10th, ’07-6th, ’13-6th);
Set the current Asian Record of 278-5 (84.86) in 2003.
His father, Shigenobu, known as “Asia’s Man of Iron”was a five-time Asian Champion in the
hammer and competed for Japan in three Olympics…sister Yuka is the Japanese National
Record holder in the Discus and Hammer…his mother was a Romanian javelin thrower…In
1998, he broke the Japanese National Record which had been held for almost 14 years by his
father….Koji learned the event at an early age by attending his father’s practice sessions.
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/88141
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koji_Murofushi
Pam Spencer 68 (1957) 3-time U.S. Olympian-High Jump (1976/qual.round, 1980/Boycott, 1984/=11th)
2-time U.S. Champion (1981,1984)
Set two American Records in 1981: 6-5 ¼ (1.96), 6-5 ½ (1.97)
Started her collegiate career at Seattle Pacific—transferred to Cal-State Northridge after the 1978 season
AIAW All-American: 1977-2nd, 1978-3rd, 1979-2nd (Helped CSUN win the team title)
Was one of many T&F stars who had a role in the movie “Personal Best”, which focused on athletes trying to make
the 1980 Olympic team and dealing with the U.S. boycott.
USATF Alumni Interview(2020)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77974
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Spencer
Personal Best Movie:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Best_(film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084489/
Roger Ebert’s 4-star Review: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/personal-best-1982
Emiel Puttemans—Belgium 78 (1947) 1972 Olympic silver medalist—10,000m (5th-5000)
Former World Indoor Record holder: 2000, 3000, 2-miles, 3-miles, 5000, 6-miles, 10,000!
PBs: 3:56.19 (‘73), 4:59.8 (‘73), 7:37.6 (’72), 7:39.2i (’73), 8:13.2i/2m (’73), 13:13.0 (’72), 13:20.8 i(’76),
27:39.58(’72)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/65271
www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=227
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/belgium/emiel-puttemans-14345192
Geoff Vanderstock 79 (1946) 1968 U.S. Olympian—400m-hurdles (4th)
Former World Record holder-48.8 (1968/auto-48.94)
All-American at USC—3rd at the 1967 and 1968 NCAA Championships
From OIympedia: Vanderstock settled in the San Fernando Valley, where he became a prominent real estate
broker. He also appeared in several movies and on television, among them the 1979 track & field movie
Goldengirl, the Sylvester Stallone / Kurt Russell movie from 1989, Tango & Cash (playing a federal agent),
and on the FOX comedy television series, Mr. President.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Vanderstock
httLūsis.olympedia.org/athletes/79151
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0888859/
Jean Poquette 89 (1936) Legendary New Jersey High School coach
Best known for coaching hurdles legend Renaldo Nehemiah at Scotch Plains-Fanwood H.S. (coached at SP from
1962-1978)
Among the other athletes he coached was Vince Cartier, whose 4:06.6 indoor mile in 1972 remained the fastest in
a prep-only indoor race for 38 years. With Cartier on the anchor leg, Scotch Plains won the H.S. Distance Medley
at the 1971 Penn Relays.
In charge of the running events and jumps at Scotch Plains, Poquette pointed out once that, “Of the fourteen
individual events in track, we had state champions in twelve of them in the time I was there.”
He also coached Bob Calhoun, a future IC4A sprint and Long Jump Champion when he was at Maryland (he was
Nehemiah’s roommate).
Nehemiah, who says “I owe so much of my development and hurdling consistency to Jean”, still stays in touch with
his old coach. And now the roles are reversed. “…I lovingly remind him how important it is to keep exercising as
best he can. And to maintain his flexibility, to alleviate stress on his body”.
This is from an article Nehemiah wrote back in 2017 (“The Man Behind the Man”): I’m often reminded of our many
accomplishments. However, my most meaningful times with Jean (I’m old enough to call him that now) ironically
didn’t take place on the track. They took place on days when I would meet him while he was out walking his 2
dogs. It was during those walks that we just talked, sometimes about track but mostly about life. About being
responsible, becoming a man and family. Jean loves his family and his wife Stephanie was everything to him.
Funny, how it was while I was walking and not running that I realized how much he truly cared about me the
person. And in doing so, he left his meticulous blueprint all over my life”.
https://hurdlesfirstbeta.com/free-articles/profiles/jean-poquette-guide-great-one/
https://www.thenehemiahrules.com/blog/jean-poquette
Deceased
Lennox Miller-Jamaica 58 (1946-Nov.8, 2004) 2-time Olympic medalist-100m (1968-silver, 1972-bronze)
1968 NCAA Champion-100m (USC)…2nd in the 100y in 1967 & 1969…2nd in the 220y/200m in 1967 & 1968
Anchored the USC team that set a World Record of 38.6 in the 440y-relay at the 1967 NCAA Championships
(Earl McCullouch, Fred Kuller, O.J. Simpson, Lennox Miller)
Led Kingston College to the first relay titles won by a Jamaican high school at the Penn Relays—anchored the
440y-relay in 1964 and 1965…also ran the 3rd leg on the winning mile relay in 1965.
Considered the first great Jamaican sprinter…father of Inger Miller, who won Olympic gold as a member of the U.S.
team that won the 4×100 at the 1996 Olympics (first father-daughter combo to win Olympic medals).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennox_Miller
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/72310
https://pennrelays.com/honors/wall-of-fame/lennox-miller/54
