This Day in Track & Field/X-Country–April 2, Lillian Copeland wins shot put, Javelin and Discus at Maccabiah Games!

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service  ([email protected])

(c)Copyright 2026-all rights reserved. May not be reprinted or retransmitted without permission.

This Day in Track & Field/X-Country–April 2

(Lillian Copeland, Santee, Nieder, Russ Francis, Walder, Bekele, Kastor/Birthdays-Otterdahl, Walcott, Hood, Christie, Bordin, Covelli)

1935–Lillian Copeland, the 1932 Olympic Champion in the Women’s Discus, threw the Shot 40-5 (12.32) at the 2^nd Jewish Olympics/Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv, Palestine, to break her own American Record (38-5  ½ [11.72]) by almost two feet. She also won gold medals in the Discus and Javelin.

Financial problems and a late arrival at the 18th Street Pier in New York City almost kept Copeland and the rest of the U.S. delegation from making it onto the ship that would take them to Tel Aviv!

Athletes from many countries, including all 350 members of the Bulgarian team, remained in Palestine after the Games were over.

Copeland also held American Records in the Discus and Javelin and won 9 U.S. titles in three events–5  in the Shot Put, two in the Discus, and two in the Javelin She was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1994.

Maccabiah Games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1935_Maccabiah_Games

http://jwa.org/thisweek/aug/02/1932/lillian-copeland

HOF Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/lillian-copeland

1955–Wes Santee, “The Kansas Cowboy”, ran 4:00.5 in Austin, Texas, to break the American Record for the 4th and final time, but fell just short of becoming the first American to run a sub-4-minute mile. Santee’s pursuit of the 4-minute mile, along with that of Roger Banister and John Landy, is chronicled in the book, “The Perfect Mile.”

Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/wes-santee

https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Mile-Athletes-Minutes-Achieve/dp/0618562095

1960–Using a borrowed implement (his was being repaired), future Hall-of-Fame Bill Nieder, like Santee, a former Kansas Jayhawk, regained the Shot Put World Record from Dallas Long in a big way at the Texas Relays with his throw of 65-7 (19.99), besting Long’s previous mark by more than a foot.

Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/bill-nieder

WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression

Kansas Hall of Fame:  https://www.kshof.org/team/bill-nieder

1960—Ray Norton ran 9.3 in San Jose to equal the World Record for 100-Yards that he already shared with 7 others, including Mel Patton, Dave Sime, and Bobby Morrow

1960—Northeast Louisiana’s Don Styron ran 21.9 in Baton Rouge to break the World Record in the 220y-Hurdles. Elias Gilbert set the previous mark of 22.1 in 1958.

Four months earlier, Styron’s training had been interrupted when he accidentally shot himself in the right leg with a pistol. The bullet was removed from his right thigh and he was back running the next day!

(From the IAAF Progression of World Records)

1968—South Africa’s Paul Nash ran 10.0 for 100 meters in Krugersdorp to equal the World Record that was first set by Germany’s Armin Hary in 1960. Others sharing the record included Harry Jerome, Bob Hayes, and Jim Hines.

1971–Russ Francis, a senior at Pleasant Hill H.S. who had never even seen a javelin when he moved from Hawaii to Oregon, threw 184-2 (56.13) in his first competition.  That was a modest opener for Francis, who went on to set three National H.S. Records with the “old” implement in 1971: 253-1 (77.14/5-7), 254-11 (77.70/5-27), and 259-9 (79.17/6-12). The latter mark stood for 17 years until the late Art Skipper threw 259-10 (79.20, Sandy, OR) in 1988. He also finished 4th at the U.S. Championships in 1971.

Francis spent more than ten years in the NFL as a tight end with New England and San Francisco and was a member of the 49ers’ 1985 Super Bowl Championship team. Among his teammates were fellow track and field stars Michael Carter and Renaldo Nehemiah. Francis, following in his father (Ed) ‘s footsteps, also spent some time as a professional wrestler and ran for Congress in Hawaii in 2000. He died in a plane crash in 2023 at the age of 70.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FranRu00.htm

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

https://hornellsun.com/2023/10/04/russ-francis-died-in-a-plane-crash-at-lake-placid-but-his-life-was-full-and-more-than-football/

Wrestling Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW9_b9U4084

1994–After anchoring Arkansas’  4×100 to a 3rd-place finish (39.80) at the UTEP Inv., senior Erick Walder made his way over to the Long Jump pit, where he started out with a pair of modest 25-footers. He gave a hint of things to come with his 5th-round jump of 27-4  ¾ (8.35), then, taking full advantage of the 3,700’ altitude and a maximum 2.0 mps trailing wind, Walder reached out to 28-8 1/4 (8.74) to break Carl Lewis’s 13-year-old Collegiate Record of 28-3 ½ (8.62). “I’ve been chasing that mark since my sophomore year”, said the happy Walder.

Walder, whose CR still stands, won an amazing 10 NCAA titles in the Long Jump and Triple Jump during his brilliant career at Arkansas.

Arkansas Hall of Fame induction and speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq8IID5Cl5o

1998—Brigham Young senior Amy Palmer threw the Hammer 220-1 (67.08) at the Texas Relays to smash Dawn Ellerbe’s year-old American and Collegiate Record of 210-8 (64.22). South Carolina’s Ellerbe was 2^nd in the competition with a throw of 202-11 (61.86),

Palmer got her record throw in the first round, fouled on her next 4 throws, then finished off with a modest toss of 200-4 (61.06).

2006(4-1/2)–Kenenisa Bekele won his 5th straight double (short-4/1, long 4/2)  at the World X-Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba won the Women’s “long” race for the 2^nd year in a row (she dropped out of the “short” race).

Adam Goucher had the best showing by an American, finishing an impressive 6th in the Senior Men’s Short race (4/1).

This was the last year for the 2-day format ( “short” race was eliminated).

Other Notable/U.S. Finishers

Senior Men-Long(12k/4-2):1.Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 35:40, 2.Sileshi SIhine (ETH) 35:43…4.Zersenay Tadesse (ERI) 35:47, 43.Ryan Hall (USA), 51.Pat Gildea (USA), 55.Brandon Leslie (USA), 57.Max King (USA), 74.Jason Hartmann (USA), DNF-Matt Gabrielson (USA); Team:1.Kenya 24, 2.Eritrea 28, 3.Ethiopia 42;

Senior Men-Short(4k/4-1):1.Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 10:54, 2.Isaac Songok (KEN) 10:55, 3.Adil Kaouch (MAR) 10:57, 4. Benjamin Limo (KEN) 11:00, 5.Ali Abdosh (ETH) 11:01, 6.Adam Goucher (USA) 11:02, 7.Augustin Choge (KEN), 8. Edwin Soi (KEN), 9. Saif Saeed Shaheen (QAT), 11.Craig Mottram (AUS), 12.Sileshi Sihine (ETH), 13.Kevin Sullivan (CAN), 18.Brimin Kipruto (KEN), 19.Ryan Hall (USA), 27.Jorge Torres (USA), 28.Daniel Lincoln (USA), 30.Gebre Gebremariam (ETH), 33.Ian Dobson (USA), 40.Mo Farah (GBR), 57.Luke Watson (USA); Team:1.Kenya 24, 2.Ethiopia 48;

Senior Women-Long(8k/4-1):1.Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 25:21, 2.Lornah Kiplagat (NED) 25:26, 3.Meselech Melkamu (ETH), 4. Benita Johnson-Willis (AUS/2004 Champion), 11.Blake Russell (USA), 13.Edna Kiplagat (KEN), 21.Katie McGregor (USA), 26.Sara Slattery (USA), 33.Colleen de Reuck (USA), 49.Renee Metivier-Baillie (USA), 59.Sharon Dickie-Thompson (USA); Team:1.Ethiopia 16, 2.Kenya 39

Senior Women-Short(4k/4-2):1.Gelete Burka (ETH) 12:51, 2.Prisca Ngetich (KEN) 12:53, 3.Meselech Melkamu (ETH), 4. Benita Johnson-Willis (AUS), 5.Lornah Kiplagat (NED), 8. Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN), 18.Blake Russell (USA), 21.Kara Goucher (USA), 22.Carmen Douma-Hassar (CAN), 24.Courtney Babcock (CAN), 26.Sara Hall (USA), 34.Carrie Tollefson (USA), 37.Maryam Jamal (BRN), 38.Sarah Schwald (USA), 66.Amy Mortimer (USA); DNF-Turunesh Dibaba (ETH); Team:1.Ethiopia 25, 2.Kenya 26

Junior Men(8k/4-2):1. Mang’ata Ndiwa (KEN) 23:53, 2.Leonard Komon (KEN) 23:54, 3.Tariku Bekele (ETH/Kenenisa’s brother) 23:56, 5.Ibrahim Jellan (ETH), 34.Kiel Uhl (USA), 39.Andrew Bumbalough (USA), 50.Jordan McDougal (USA), 58.Michael Eaton (USA); Team:1.Kenya 16, 2.Ethiopia 24

Junior Women(6k/4-1):1.Pauline Korikwiang (KEN) 19:27, 2.Veronica Wanjiru (KEN) 19:27, 31.McKayla Plank (USA), 34.Erin Bedell (USA), 38.Kauren Tarver (USA), 39.Nicole Blood (USA), 46.Sheila Reid (CAN), 52.Mel Lawrence (USA), 67.Maddie McKeever (USA); Team: 1. Kenya 10, 2.Ethiopia 29

World Athletics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvbkIott-hA

History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships

2006—Deena Kastor was disappointed with her 2nd-place finish to Kenya’s Edith Masai in the Berlin ½-marathon, but did come away with an American Record of 67:34 (since broken).

Said Kastor, “I’m delighted, but there’s a kind of bittersweet pleasure. Of course, I came here to win. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring that off, but I did set a personal best and a US record”.

https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/kosgei-5907-masai-defeats-kastor-berlin-hal

2021—The brand new Hayward Field in Eugene opened for business with the staging of the Hayward Premiere (April 2,3), a college meet hosted by the University of Oregon.

Oregon’s Cole Hocker won the 1500 meters (3:38.99) on Friday, then came back the next day to win the 800 (1:46.60).

Results: https://www.tfrrs.org/results/67754/Hayward_Premiere/

https://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/2021/04/track-and-field-returns-to-hayward-field-with-hayward-premiere-meet.html

Photos: https://www.registerguard.com/picture-gallery/sports/2021/04/03/hayward-premiere/7073215002/

Born On This Day*

Payton Otterdahl  30 (1996)  2019 NCAA Indoor Champion—Shot Put & 35-pound Weight Throw(North Dakota State-’19)

Set a Collegiate Indoor Record of 71-6  ¾ (21.81) at the 2019 Summit League Championships

4^th at the 2024 Olympics, 10^th in 2021; 5^th at the 2023 World Championships…2025-competed in the qualifying round

3^rd at the 2021 & 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials

2015 U.S. Junior/Under-20 Champion-Discus

Younger brother Trevor was a thrower at ND State.

PBs: 74-1  1/2i (22.58.2024), 206-6 (62.94/2019); 2025 SB: 73-4 (22.35)

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

https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/payton-otterdahl-14674710

https://gobison.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7816

CR Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdwZr6olIXw

Keshorn Walcott—Trinidad & Tobago  33 (1993) 19 at the time, he became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in the

Javelin in 2012…had won the World Junior title a month earlier. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 7^th in 2024

2025 World Champion…2013 & 2015 (qual.round), 2017 (7^th), 2019 (11^th), 2022 (qual. round)

2015 Pan-American Games Champion;

PB: 295-9 (90.16/2016);  2025 SB:  289-3 (88.16) 6’-0”, 198

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

https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/trinidad-and-tobago/keshorn-walcott-249321

Pre-2016 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qwQIUbCpqM

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/125971

Graham Hood—Canada 54 (1972) 1994 NCAA Champion—1500m (Arkansas)—beat Erik Nedeau, freshman Kevin Sullivan,

Paul McMullen and teammate Niall Bruton…finished 2^nd to Sullivan in the Mile at the 1995 NCAA Indoor

Championships (3:55.33-3:55.72)

1994 NCAA Indoor Champion—DMR (anchor)

Finalist in the 1500 at the 1992 Olympics (9^th) and the 1997 (7^th) and 1999 (10^th) World Championships

1999 Pan-American Games Champion

Outstanding performer—1994 Penn Relays (3:40.2 anchor on winning 4×1500, 1:46.8  800 leg on winning DMR,

1:47.3 on 7^th-place 4×800); member of 7 winning teams at Penn

Beat Marcus O’Sullivan to win the Wanamaker Mile at the 1995 Millrose Games

PBs: 1:45.70 (1994), 2:16.88 (1996), 3:33.94 (1997), 3:51.55 (1997), 2:34:52 (2007)

NY Times(1995 Millrose):

www.nytimes.com/1995/02/05/sports/track-field-arkansas-senior-young-gifted-smart-enough-capture-wanamaker-mile.html

http://www.thedp.com/article/1995/04/hood_living_up_to_razorback_mystique

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/mar/12/its-a-great-day-for-a-mile-eh-canadians-record/

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/66091

https://pennrelays.com/honors/wall-of-fame/graham-hood/2

Linford Christie—Great Britain  66 (1960)  Gold medalist in the 100 at the 1992 Olympics and 1993 World Championships.

Disqualified for a false start in the final of the 100 at the 1996 Olympics. Race had already been delayed

because of previous false starts, and was further delayed when Christie at first refused to leave the track.

(see links). PBs: 6.47i (1995), 9.87 (1993)

Silver medalist in the 100 and 4×100 at the 1988 Olympics

2-time World Championships bronze medalist—100 (1987), 4×100 (1991/1993-silver)

Silver medalist in the 60 and 200 at the 1991 World Indoor Championships

3-time European Champion—100m(1986,1990,1994)

Born in Jamaica, moved to England with his family when he was 7

1992 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8d7tz2YK3A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2d27GX_8bw

https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/linford-christie-496

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68957

False Start: https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/29/sports/chaotic-100-meters-ends-with-record.html

Drugs Controversy:

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1432/linford-christie-i-have-no-role-in-2012-because-qim-a-drug-cheatq

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3396554/Stop-Linford-Christie-punish-failed-tests-says-ex-sprinter-John-Regis.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/bbc-drops-linford-christie-after-drugs-ban-is-confirmed-696211.html

Gelindo Bordin—Italy  67 (1959)   1988 Olympic Champion—Marathon (1992-DNF)

Bronze medalist at the 1987 World Championships (1991-8^th)

2-time European Champion (1986,1990); PB: 2:08:19 (1990)

Winner of the 1990 Boston Marathon (Only Olympic gold medalist to win at Boston); 3^rd-1990 NYC Marathon

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

Boston

     Video(Italian) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GLI20aCZ-I

     (2010) https://www.runnersworld.com/races/1990-champ-gelindo-bordin-and-the-olympic-jinx

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/71882

Career Stats: https://more.arrs.run/runner/4229

Deceased

Calvin Davis 51 (1972-May 1, 2023) 1996 Olympic bronze medalist-400m Hurdles

1995 World Indoor Champion—4×400 (6^th-400m)

1993 NCAA Champion-400m (Arkansas); 1994 NCAA Indoor Champion-400m

1994 NCAA Indoor Champion—Distance Medley (400 leg)

1992 U.S. Junior College Champion-400m (Wallace State)

Made a remarkable transition from the “flat” 400 to the hurdles version, competing over the barriers for the first time

on June 1^st, 1996, only two weeks before finishing 3^rd at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Ranked #4 in the World in 1996 by T&F News, #10 in 1999.

PBs: 45.04 (1993), 47.91 (1996)

His Olympic bronze medal was stolen from his mother’s home in 2005 (don’t know if it was ever returned or replaced)

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78296

https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/olympic-medalist-razorback-multiple-ncaa-champion-calvin-davis-passes/

https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/calvin-davis-14235977

Stolen Medal: https://www.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=2240406

https://mstca.org/hall-of-fame/athletes/91

1996 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ367bF-lm8

Frank Covelli 65 (1937-October 25, 2002)  1963 NCAA Champion—Javelin (Arizona State)

2-time U.S. Champion(1964, 1968)

1967 Pan-American Games Champion

2-time U.S. Olympian (1964,1968/qualifying round); PB(old implement): 284-8 (86.76/1968)

Made the top-10 U.S. ranking 8 times from 1963-1971 (#1 four times-1963-1965, 1968/#2-

1967,1969)…World-Ranked 4 times (high of #7 in 1963)

Took up the javelin at the age of 21 after joining the Air Force. Competed post-Arizona State while working

at a full-time job as an engineer for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft.

“There’s quite an apprenticeship in the javelin. But once you put it all together, you’ve got something. It’s not like

being a sprinter, where any kid can come along and beat you just as long as he’s fast.”

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

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78271

     Rankings: https://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/rankings

Delfo Cabrera—Argentina 62 (1919-Aug.2, 1981) 1948 Olympic gold medalist—Marathon (1952-6^th)

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/64400

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

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kP-IBxrpQ