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This day in the field of athletics – April 8
1967– Texas A&M’s Randy MatsonBetter known for her feats in the shot put, she threw the discus 213-9 (65.15) at her home course in College Station, Texas, to surpass Jay Sylvester’s American record of 210-6 (64.16). Matson’s throw was 2th longest in history behind Ludwig Danek’s 213-11 world record (65.20). He also threw the shot 70-5 ½ (21.47/twice), just shy of his world record of 70-7 ¼ (21.52) to complete the biggest one-day double in both events. Matson would win his 2th Another NCAA shot-disc double in June. A silver medalist in shooting at the 1964 Olympics, he won gold at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.
1972– Sweden Kiel Isakson Texas cleared 18-1 (5.51) in the relay to surpass Christos Papanikolaou’s world record in the pole vault (18-0 (5.49)). Isakson, a three-time Olympian (1968-1976), will improve his record to 18-2 (5.54) next week at UCLA and 18-2 ½ (5.55) in Sweden in June.
WR progress: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_pole_vault_world_record_progression
WikiBio:: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kjell_Isaksson
18-2 vault: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeBBYSZW7_8
1978– With Washington State teammates (and Kenyans) Josh Kimeto and Samson Kimobwa (10,000-meter world record holder) pushing early in the race, sophomore Henry Rono set his first world record by running 13:08.4 for 5,000 meters during the 10,000-meter race at Calwardlim. and at 5000 meters. California. Rono would also set world records in the 10,000 and 3,000 over the next 2-1/2 months. His 5,000 mark will remain the “absolute” collegiate record until Arizona’s Louie Lalang ran 13:08.28 indoors in 2012 and Outdoor CR until Northern Arizona’s Abdi Nour ran 13:06.32 in 2022.
Many of the 5,000 fans in attendance had come just to watch a good track meet, but veteran announcer Bob Steiner started up a fast pace and warned fans of the record possibility. “I don’t know why I did it,” Steiner said. “I’ve never set a world record after three laps.”
In the wake of Rono’s big run, Cougars coach John Chaplin was bombarded with interview requests and invitations to speak at clinics. Chaplin, who was furious over the recruitment policy, said: “I tell them. “What do I know about distance running? I’m just a recruiter of foreign athletes. Call Oregon or Kansas, they should know everything about distance running.” (from Subsequent news)
1995– Virtually unknown at the time, 20-year-old Maurice Greene ran a wind-aided (+5.03) 9.88 to win the 100 meters at the Texas Relays over Jamaican Olympic veteran Ray Stewart (9.89), two-time Olympic 100 champion Carlin Lewis and fellow junior Spryn Lewis (9.9). (9.95). He would become one of the best sprinters in the world, winning Olympic gold in the 100 in 2000 and 4 individual world titles (1997-100, 1999-100, 200, 2001-100).
2017— Senior Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic, NJ) set a national HS record of 38.90 in the 300-meter hurdles at the Arcadia Inv. The previous mark of 39.98 was set in 2001 Give it to Lashindawho became one of the best 400 meter hurdlers in the world (and former American record holder of 52.47). McLaughlin, of course, did the same, setting world records and winning Olympic (2021, 2024) and world (2022, 2023) titles.
Video:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15GALXeRJMk
Post-race interview: http://www.arcadiainvitational.org/eprofile.php?event_id=63&do=videos&video_id=205172
Let’s give: https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/lashinda-demus-14308886
in 2023— Sha Curry Richardson ran a sensational 10.57 100m in Miramar, Florida, even though he had a very strong tailwind (+4.1 m/s). Wind aided or not, that was the 4th fastest time in history
10.57 am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05st6xiedCM
All Time List/All Conditions
10.49 Florence Griffith Joyner (USA) 16.7.88
10.54w ————Griffith Joyner 9/25/88
10.54 Elaine Thompson-Hera (Jamaica) 21.8.21
10.57w Sha-Carri Richardson (USA) 4/08/23
10.60w ————Griffith Joyner 7/16/88
10.60 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) 8/26/21
Born on this day*
Patrick Ronot 34 (1992) All-American at Arkansas
NCAA. 800 (2013-7th2014-3th (i), 4:th);
PBs1:47.66 (2013), 3:46.11 (2014), 4:01.79 (2013); H.S PBs (Lyndhurst, NJ): 1:50.10, 4:10.11 (1600m)
Son of 1988 Olympic gold medalist Peter Roano in the 1500m
Evans Rutto-Kenya 48 (1978) 2-time Chicago Marathon winner (2003, 2004)
He also won the London Marathon in 2004
1999 X-Earth World Champion (Team)
PBs: 7:36.38 (2000), 13:02.71 (2000), 27:21.32 (2000), 1:00:30 (2001), 2:05:50 (2003)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evans_Rutto
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/evans-rutto-limo-14209716
Pascal Daubert 53 (1973) 1997 NCAA Champion-Steeplechase (Wisconsin/2th 1996)
3-time US champion (1998-2000); He participated in the first round of the 1999 World Championship and in 2000
Olympic Games. PB::8:15.77 (2000)
Former assistant coach at Bowerman Track Club. Among his trained athletes is Evan Jagger, who
American record holder in the steeplechase
Currently working at PUMA as Senior Sports Marketing Manager
https://www.si.com/olympics/2016/08/05/evan-jager-pascal-dobert-steeplechase-2016-rio-olympics
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/89120
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascal-dobert-258a57a
Congratulations from the Jagers!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4cz0Bt9s9s
Silvia Mosqueda 60 (1966) 1988 NCAA Champion — 10,000m (Cal.St.-LA/set college record 32:28.57);
5000-1987 (3:th), 1988 (6:th), 1987 NCAA Div.II X-Country Champion
4th scorer (44:th) on the USA team that won silver medals at the 1992 X-Country World Championships
Participated in the 2003 World Marathon Championships (DNF)
Participated in 5 US Olympic Trials. Marathon-1988, 10,000-1992 (4:th), 1996-DNF, 2000 (6:th), 2004-DNF
PBs31:54.03 (1996), 71:20 (2000), 2:33:10 (2003 NYC/10th)
Ranked in the top 10 Americans in the 10,000 seven times from 1988-2004 (age 38); 1990’s #3 high
Stayed active as a Masters runner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Mosqueda
Ranking tables: https://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/rankings
Tom Petranoff 68 (1958) Set a monster world record 327-2 (99.24) for the “old” Javelin at the 1983 Pepsi meet
at UCLA; 2 times USA Olympian (’84,’88); 2-time US champion (’85,’86)
Suspended by USA to compete in South Africa when that country was yet to be recognized internationally
competition He became a citizen of South Africa, but was denied the opportunity to participate in the 1992 Olympic Games.
Barcelona (see NY Times link).
creator of the TurboJav training tool,
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78890
T&F News Cover:(June). https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/1983_06.jpg
T&F News Interview (1983): https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/tom_petranoff.pdf
WikiBio:: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Petranoff
www.nytimes.com/1992/07/22/sports/olympics-petranoff-is-barred-from-javelin-event.html
1997 Interview https://www.turbojav.com
Dead
Bill Tidwell 91 (1932-March 6, 2023) 4-time NAIA champion at Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia
State) – won the 880y and the Mile in 1955 and 1956. PB:-1:47.4 (1955)
5:00th 800 at the 1956 U.S. Olympic Trials;
Defeated Wes Santee to win the Mile at the 1950 Kansas HS State Meet.
He was the athletic director at Oberlin College from 1959-1971 and then at Emporia State until 1994.
https://www.kshof.org/team/bill-tidwell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Tidwell
Dave Romanski 86 (1938 – October 31, 2024) 1968 US Olympic – 50k Walk (26th)
In 1970, won every US title from 10km to 40km, winning six titles that year. He also finished eighth
that year at the IAAF Race Walking World Cup.
3-time US Champion: Miles Kyle (1969, 1970, 1972)
member of US Masters Hall of Fame
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Romansky
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78973
