Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
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This Day in Track & Field–April 5
1957—A University of Texas lineup of Wallace Wilson, Eddie Southern, Hollis Gainey, and Bobby Whilden set a Collegiate and World Record of 1:22.7 in the 4x220y at the Texas Relays.
Whilden, who turned 90 in 2025, continued to have success in Masters competition, setting an American Record of 15.93 for 100-Meters in his age group at the 2023 U.S. Masters outdoor Championships!
https://alcalde.texasexes.org/2022/11/longhorn-track-record-running/
https://texaslonghorns.com/honors/hall-of-honor/bobby-whilden/829
https://pennrelays.com/honors/wall-of-fame/bobby-whilden/183
1958–Kansas senior Al Oerter had three throws longer than Fortune Gordien’s World Record of 194-6 (59.28) in the Discus at the Kansas Relays, but the marks couldn’t be considered for record purposes, since the field sloped more than the allowable limit. Oerter, who had won the first of his 4 Olympic discus titles two years earlier, had throws of 202-6 (61.72), 198-7 (60.52?), and 195-4 (59.54?).
1980—Lorna Griffin threw 192-1 (58.54) in Tempe, Arizona, to set the 5th of her 9 American Records in the discus.
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77848
http://spufalcons.com/news/2012/7/18/12_gen_July27.aspx
1986—Jud Logan threw 256-3 (78.10) at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State to set the 7th of his 10 American Records in the Hammer Throw.
The long-time coach at Ashland University passed away in January 2022, at the age of 62.
2003—LSU set a Collegiate Record of 1:30.07 in the 4×200 at the Texas Relays in Austin, Texas. Runner-up Texas, with Sanya Richards on the anchor, ran 1:30.67, which was also under South Carolina’s previous record of 1:30.73 (2003).
Winner of the Boys High School 1600-meters in 4:06.29 was Leo Manzano (Marble Falls,TX). He would compete in Austin for the next 4 years as a member of the University of Texas team and would win the silver medal in the 1500-meters at the 2012 Olympics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonel_Manzano
Born On This Day*
Ethan Katzberg—Canada 24 (2002) Gold medalist in the Hammer at the 2023 & 2025 World Championships and 2024 Olympics
Youngest World (21) and youngest Olympic (22) champion in the event, 2023 Pan American Games Champion. Coached by Dylan Armstrong, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in the Shot Put
PB: 277-11 (84.70/2024/North American Record/#5 All-Time);
Tall for a hammer thrower: 6’-4”, 251 (1.93, 114kg)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Katzberg
https://www.instagram.com/ethankatzberg/?hl=en
https://olympic.ca/team-canada/ethan-katzberg/
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/canada/ethan-katzberg-14809348
Videos: 2023 WC 2024 OG 2025 WC Feature Thor
Jordan Davis 25 (2001) 2-time NCAA Div.II Champion—Javelin (2022, 2024); 2021-9th, 2023-4th (Southern Connecticut)
Winner at the 2024 Texas Relays—threw a personal best (and NCAA Div.II Record) of 274-10 (83.77) and
defeated 2023 U.S. Champion Curtis Thompson…improved to 277-0 while winning his 2nd Div.II title in 2024
Only 3 Div.Have athletes ever thrown farther?
Finished 6th at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
PB: 277-0 (84.45/2024); 2026 SB: 263-8 (80.38)
https://scsuowls.com/sports/mens-track-and-field/roster/jordan-davis/10092
Nina Kennedy—Australia 29 (1997) 2024 Olympic gold medalist—Pole Vault; Didn’t make the final in 2021
2023 World Champion (shared the title with American Katie Moon), bronze medalist in 2022; NH-2015 (qual.)
Had hoped to defend her World title in Tokyo in 2025 after having hamstring surgery, but was a late scratch
2022 Commonwealth Games Champion
PB: 16-1 1/4i (4.91/2023); 2025 SB: 15-5 ¾ (4.72)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Kennedy
2023 WC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ca3nq_-xkchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ca3nq_-xkc
https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/katie-moon-pole-vault-track-and-field-world-championships
2024 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viMmoDhlLm4
Role Model: www.nbcolympics.com/news/nina-kennedy-becomes-role-model-down-under-after-world-title-split
https://www.instagram.com/ninakennedy_/?hl=en
Thea LaFond—Dominica 32 (1994) 2024 Olympic gold medalist—Triple Jump (1st Olympic medal for Dominica in any sport)
2016 (qual.), 2021 (12th)
2024 World Indoor Champion, 4th in 2022 & 2025, 17th in 2018
Silver medalist at the 2025 World Championships…5th in 2022 & 2023
PB: 49-3 ½ (15.02/2024); 2026 SB: 47-11 ¾ (14.62)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thea_LaFond
2024 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XKdrZ1tjwc
Aliphine Tuliamuk 37 (1989) Surprise winner at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials; Did not finish at the 2021
Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.
9-time U.S. Champion on the roads–2016-5k, 20k, 25k; 2017-10k, 25k; 2018-25k, ½-marathon;
2020-marathon, 2023-Half Marathon (1:09:37)
DNF at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
14-time All-American—NCAA Placings:
2010-XC(13)
2011-Indoor 5000 (8); Outdoor 5000 (8), 10,000 (5), XC (12)
2012-Indoor 3000 (7), 5000 (3); Outdoor 5000 (8), 10,000 (2), XC (4)
2013-Indoor 3000 (6), 5000 (3); Outdoor 5000 (4), 10,000 (2)
Started her collegiate career at Iowa State before transferring to Wichita State after the 2010 X-Country season
PBs: 9:07.01i (2013/O.T.), 15:18.86 (2013), 31:54.20 (2016), 69:16 (2013), 2:26:50 (2019);
Last competed in 2024
Native of Kenya became a U.S. citizen in 2016
“one of 32 siblings in her family — her father had four wives, and each had eight children”
12 at the time, she received her first pair of running shoes from marathon legend Tegla Loroupe, who was
speaking at her school.
Daughter Zoe Cherotich Gannon was born on January 13, 2021, giving her 6 months to prepare for the Olympic
Marathon
www.teamusa.org/News/2021/February/27/Oh-Baby-Aliphine-Tuliamuk-Adds-Motherhood-to-Marathoning
https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/people/aliphine-tuliamuk-olympics-postponed-covid-19/
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/feature/aliphine-tuliamuk-usa-distance
https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/02/29/aliphine-tuliamuk-marathon-olympic-trials/
Dwain Chambers—Great Britain 48 (1978) 2010 World Indoor Champion—60m (Silver-’08, Bronze-’12/6th-‘14)
Bronze medalist in the 100 at the 1999 World Championships
Other finals (100): Olympics (2000-4th), WC (2001-4th, 2003-4th, 2009-6th)
Has been active in Masters competition—won the 2024 European M45 title at 60-meters…had earlier set a World
Record of 6.81 for the 45-49 age group
PBs:6.42i (=#7 All-Time), 9.97 (1999);
Served a 2-year doping ban from Nov. 2003-Nov. 2005
“…he subsequently apologized, paid back a six-figure prize-money sum and now gives talks about the dangers of
drugs.”
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwain_Chambers
http://www.chambersforsport.com/
“Walking Junkie”(2009): http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/mar/02/drugs-in-sport-athletics
“Race Against Me: My Story”(Autobiography):
http://www.amazon.com/Race-Against-Me-My-Story/dp/1905988753
Kim Collins—St Kitts&Nevis 50 (1976) 2003 World Champion—100m (out of lane 1);
2001 NCAA Indoor Champion-60m (TCU)
2-time silver medalist in the 60 at the World Indoor Championships (2003, 2008)
4-time bronze medalist at the World Outdoor Championships
(’01-200, ’05-100, ’11-100, 4×100)
Competed in 5 Olympics and 8 World Outdoor Championships. Was in London for the 2012 Olympics, but his
country’s officials sent him home after he spent a night with his wife away from the team’s official residence!
The grand old man of sprinting—ran a personal best of 9.93 in 2016 at the age of 40 (Oldest ever to break 10-
seconds); 8th in the 60-meters at the 2016 World Indoor Championships
Announced that he would finally retire at the end of the 2017 season, but wound up competing throughout the
year in 2018. Ran the 60 14 times at 8 different meets, including his 4th World Indoor Championships in
Birmingham, England, where he won the silver medal 15 years earlier at the 2003 Indoor Worlds! He
made it out of the 1st round, but didn’t run in the semi-finals. Had a best of 6.60 in his final indoor season
and ran 10.37 for 100-meters outdoors. He closed out his career on September 4, 2018, in the Czech
Republic, winning the 60 and finishing 2nd in the 150-meters.
“I felt the need to still do one more outdoor season and be able to say farewell to my fans and all the friends that I
made over the years all over the world.”
PBs: 6.47 (2015-age 38), 9.93 (2016-age 39), 20.20 (2001)
https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/02/sport/kim-collins-40-year-old-sprinter-olympics/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Collins
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/saint-kitts-and-nevis/kim-collins-14224942
2018 WIC: https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/world-indoor-birmingham-2018-men-60-heats
Sent Home From London (2012 OG)
Karen Anderson-Oldham 88 (1938) 2-time U.S. Olympian—Javelin (1956-8th, 1960-11th)
3-time U.S. Champion (1954-1956); 2-time winner at the U.S. Olympic Trials (1956, 1960)
1955 Pan-American Games Champion
Set 4 American Records
Became an accomplished golfer once her throwing career was over—was 2nd at the 1996 U.S. Women’s Senior
(50+) Amateur Championship
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77746
Golf Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARhVVno1CAA
Deceased
Hugh Maiocco 90 (1927-Aug.9, 2017) 2-time U.S. Indoor Champion—600y (1950-1:11.2/Meet Record, 1951)
Bronze medalist in the 800-meters at the inaugural Pan-American Games in 1951 (Gold medalist-4×400 relay)
Practicing physician in Brentwood, California, for more than 50 years. Coached local athletes in his spare time.
Brother Dick, who also competed for NYU, was a 2-time IC4A Champion at 440-yards (1951,1952)
Memories from Elliott Denman, another NYU alum:
Lively chat with Hugo (also known as Hugh) at NYU Hall of Fame gathering when he came in from Calif. to join
induction festivities for teammate Ira Kaplan…Seeing (from my seat in the upper deck of Madison Square
Garden) Hugo win the 600yd race at the 1951 National AAU Championships, and with victories of (NYUer)
Eddie Conwell in 60 yd dash and Roscoe Lee Browne (of later stage, screen and TV fame) in the 1000-yd run,
leading the NY Pioneer Club team to an historic and ground-breaking team win in the Indoor Nationals. Reading
about Hugo’s exploits in the first Pan American Games, Buenos Aires, 1951, taking bronze medal in the 800
meters and gold medal as leadoff man on 4×400 relay team anchored by the great Mal Whitfield…Running so
many great races for NYU, along with such notables as Reggie Pearman, Ira Kaplan, Hartley Lewis, Larry Ellis,
Jim Gilhooley, John Nelson and brother Dick Maiocco.
Au revoir, Dr. M.
Obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/eastbaytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=186356306
Arnold Jackson—Great Britain 81 (1891-Nov.13, 1972) 1912 Olympic gold medalist—1500m
Jackson (3:56.8) came from behind down the homestretch to beat the American trio of Abel Kiviat (3:56.9),
Norm Taber (3:56.9), and John Paul Jones (3:57.2).
From his Wikipedia Bio: In 1912, while still an undergraduate (at Oxford), Jackson cut short his fishing holiday in
Norway, and travelled by train to compete in that year’s Olympic Games in Sweden. He had to compete as a
private entry, not having been chosen by the Great Britain team, along with his friend from Cambridge, Philip
Baker, another private entry. This was the last Olympics at which such private entries were allowed.
He was a brigadier general and among the most highly decorated British general officers of World War I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Jackson_(British_Army_officer)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69185
