Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
This Day in Track & Field–November 8
1887—Edward Carter won the fourth of his five U.S./A.A.U. X-Country titles in the Mott Haven section of NY City (1885-1888,1892). Only Don Lash (7) and Pat Porter (8) have won more titles. Carter actually won two “National” titles in 1887. From Wikipedia:
The first events claiming the National Championship moniker were the “Amateur Individual Cross Country Championship of America” hosted by the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) in Mott Haven, Bronx starting in 1883. In 1887, the National Cross Country Association (NCCA) began holding championships. Both organizations held championships in 1887. Coincidentally, both were won by Edward C. Carter. NCCA held their last championship in 1892 at the Morris Park Racecourse. NYAC revived the series in 1897 also at Morris Park. (There were no Championships held from 1893-1896)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Cross_Country_Championships
Some History: https://rrunnin234.com/2020/12/09/some-history-of-the-usa-cross-country-championships-1883-2020/
1968—It took 8 years, but Olga Connolly finally regained the American Record in the Discus from Earlene Brown with her throw of 178-5 (54.38) in Long Beach, CA. Connolly, who won the gold medal at the 1956 Olympics while competing for her native Czechoslovakia (as Olga Fikotová) before marrying American hammer thrower Harold Connolly, had thrown 169-9 3/8 (51.75) in 1958, only to lose the record to Brown, who threw 176-10 (53.90) in 1960.
https://www.kcet.org/history-society/olga-connolly-an-amazing-olympic-and-american-love-story
1970—China’s Ni Chih-Chin cleared 7-6 (2.29) in Shangsha to better the World Record of 7-5 ¾ (2.28) that was set by the Soviet Union’s (and Russia’s) Valeriy Brumel.
China was not at the time a member of the IAAF, and the record was never put forward for ratification. The mark was set in unique conditions, as “Track and Field News” reported: “He missed his first try, so the crowd (of 80,000) began chanting one of Chairman Mao’s quotations: “Be determined, do not fear sacrifice, overcome all obstacles until the final victory”. On his next jump Ni cleared…Reportedly Ni’s only comment was “If my jumps were as high as the thoughts of Chairman Mao, I would need a fireman’s ladder to measure them”. (From the IAAF Progression of World Records)
Born On This Day*
Bridget Franek 38 (1987) 2010 NCAA Champion—Steeplechase (Penn State)
2012 Olympic finalist (12th);
Disappointed with her 6th-place finish at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials (Her last serious steeple)
Won $30,000 for winning the 2015 Warrior Dash World Championship (in the mud)
PBs: 4:12.96 (2012), 4:37.95 (2012), 9:10.04 (2009), 9:29.53sc (2010)
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_Franek
Emotional Interview (post-2016 OT):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5SSMGgsJbs
Warrior Dash
Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu6d23Q3eTo
Blanka Vlašić—Croatia 42 (1983) One of the all-time greats in the women’s high jump
2-time World Champion—(2007,2009/silver medalist-2011,2015);
2-time World Indoor Champion (2008,2010/silver medalist-2006, bronze-2004)
2-time Olympic Medalist—2008 (Silver), 2016 (bronze); Injured in 2012
Ranked among the top-10 in the world 14 times from 2001-2016 (#1 four times:2007-2010)
Competed in the first of her 4 Olympics in Sydney in 2000 when she was still only 16 years old (qual.round).
Competed in 7 outdoor and 6 indoor World Championships
Crowd-pleaser was known for her celebratory dances after a significant clearance
Height: 6’-4 ¼” (1.94)
PBs: 6-9i (2.06/2.10/=#3 All-Time World-Indoors), 6-9 ¾ (2.08/2009/=#3 AT-indoors/outdoors)
Born to HJ:
http://www.athleticsweekly.com/featured/blanka-vlasic-i-feel-that-i-was-born-to-do-high-jump-45101
2010 Article: www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/aug/01/blanka-vasic-high-jump-european-championships
2013 Article: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/blanka-vlasic-i-havent-forgotten-how-to-jump
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanka_Vlašić
All-Time Top-10: https://trackandfieldnews.com/tfn-lists/world-all-time-list-women/
Rankings: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/14-wHJRank.pdf
IAAF Profile: https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/croatia/blanka-vlasic-14263716
Videos
2007 WC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TADJh_DZOfE
2009 WC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQTDHP9wfdc
Anthony “Fam” Famiglietti 47 (1978) 2-time U.S. Olympian—Steeplechase (2004-1st round, 2008-13th)
Led the 2008 Olympic final before winding up in 13th place
2-time U.S. Champion (2002,2008[Olympic Trials]); Bronze medalist at the 2003 Pan-American Games
All-American at Tennessee (NCAA-1999/5th, 2000/4th)
PBs: 3:35.83 (’06), 3:55.71 (’06), 7:41.27 (’07), 13:11.93 (’07), 27:37.74 (’06), 8:17.34 (’08), 63:18 (’10)
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Famiglietti
2008 OG Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk_TgtS2qHY
Sub-4 With a Dog!: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article226203915.html
Nicole Teter-Downin 52 (1973) 2002 U.S. Champion—800m; 3-time U.S. Indoor Champion (2002,2003,2008);
1991 U.S. Junior Champion; 2-time U.S. Olympian—2004 (semi-finalist), 2008 (1st round-dnf)
Set an American Indoor Record of 1:58.71 while winning the 2002 U.S. Indoor title at NY’s Armory. Record stood
until 2019, when Ajee’ Wilson ran 1:58.60. (Now #4 All-Time U.S.)
(Wilson-1:58.27 and Charlene Lipsey-1:58.64 ran faster than Teter’s AR at the 2017 Millrose Games, but
Wilson was later DQ’d for a minor doping violation and Lipsey wasn’t tested at the meet).
Late bloomer won the 1991 U.S. Junior title, but didn’t become a force on the U.S. scene until 2001, when she
started training with the “Farm Team” and coach Frank Gagliano.
Ranked #1 in the U.S. in 2002 (#3-World)
PBs: 1:58.71i (2002), 1:57.97 (2002), 4:04.19 (2002)
Currently a massage therapist…Married to Andy Downin, the 2001 U.S. Champion at 1500-meters
https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20795762/a-brief-chat-with-nicole-teter/
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/104964
https://www.facebook.com/nicoledownin/
Rankings: https://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/rankings
Qadry “The Missile” Ismail 56 (1969) Top-ranked prep 110h-hurdler in the U.S. in 1988 (Meyers,Wilkes-Barre,PA)
1988 Golden West Champion; H.S. best-13.71
1991 IC4A Champion-110h (Syracuse); 1992 IC4A Indoor Champion-55h;
All-American in track (1991 NCAA-5th) and football (kick returner) at Syracuse.
Wide receiver/kick returner in the NFL for 10 years
PBs: 13.73/13.60w (1991); Brother of Raghib “The Rocket” Ismail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qadry_Ismail
NFL: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/I/IsmaQa00.htm
Deceased
Rudolf “Rudi” Harbig—Germany 30 (1913-March 5, 1944)
Former World Record holder—400m (46.0/1941), 800m (1:46.6/1939), 1000m (2:21.5/1941),
4×800 (7:30.4/1941)
When he ran his 1:46.6 (on a 500-meter track), he smashed the previous WR of 1:48.4 that was set by England’s
Sydney Wooderson in 1938
Eliminated in the 1st round of the 800 at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, but won a bronze medal in the 4×400 relay.
Was killed in action during WWII.
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/70264
http://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=125
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Harbig
Career Stats: http://thegreatdistancerunners.de/RudolfHarbig.html
Fred Newhouse 76 (1948-January 20, 2025) 1976 Olympic gold medalist—4×400 (Silver medalist in the 400)
Herman Frazier, Benny Brown, Fred Newhouse, Maxie Parks
Finished a close 2nd to Cuba’s Alberto Junatorena in the 400 final (44.26-44.40). The two would later become
Ranked among the top-10 in the world 6 times from 1970-1976 (#2 in 1976 [#1-U.S.])
2-time NAIA Champion—440y (1969,1970/Prairie View)
Bettered the Indoor World Record for 400m/440y twice, running 46.0 and 45.6 on the (very) oversized track
at the Houston Astrodome in 1970.
Remained active in the sport as an official
PB: 44.40 (1976)
Attended Prairie View A&M University in Texas and the University of Washington in Seattle, earning degrees in
Electrical Engineering and a Masters of International Business, respectively. Between undergraduate and
graduate school, he served two years in the United States Army.
Prairie View “Legend”(Facebook) Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Newhouse
Herman Frazier, the Senior Deputy Athletic Director at Syracuse, shared this about his Olympic teammate at the
time of his passing:
“Fred had contracted brain cancer little more than a year ago. He recovered enough to work the Indoor USA
Championships and the Olympic Trials as the Video Referee. He was very active with USA Track as a Referee at
many NCAA Championships as well. Fred also attended the Olympic Games this past summer. Fred as an Engineer
by trade was a bright individual and owned a cattle ranch outside of Houston. Fred was heavily involved with the
USOC Advisory Council and even jump started my career with the USOC and USA Track in leadership positions. Dr.
Leroy Walker, Dr. Evie Dennis, Fred, and I all rose to the top of USOC Positions. He was my teammate, but more
importantly, he was my friend and mentor.”
Mike Pascuzzo 63 (1961-March 15, 2025)
Tireless promoter of the sport through Vertical Adventures, which staged clinics that featured world-class
athletes who served as coaches. He also staged a Beach Vault in South Jersey every summer.
Coached at Lenape(NJ) H.S., his alma mater. With the help of his close friend Dwight Stones, he would install the
Durathon surface for high jump events at Madison Square Garden and the Meadowlands.
2-time Junior College Indoor Champion (1981,1982-Hagerstown,MD)
Finished his collegiate career at Maryland…2-time ACC Champion (1983, 1984)
“Scooze” had an overall best of 7-5 ¼ (2.27) and a high school best of 6-11 (2.11)
https://sjtrackblog.com/2025/03/17/remembering-south-jersey-track-legend-mike-pascuzzo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31WPSL1tmmQ
https://www.mountlaurelfuneralhome.com/memorials/michael-pascuzzo/5572701/index.php
