Walt Murphy News and Results Service ((email protected))
This day in the field of athletics – April 14
1946— Italy’s Adolfo Consolini broke his 5-year-old world record (175-0 (53.34)) in the discus twice in Milan, first with 176-1 (53.69) and then with 178-2 (54.32).
Consolini, a 3-time European champion, would have been the favorite if the 1944 Olympics had been canceled due to World War II, but he took advantage of the 2nd.th opportunity by winning a gold medal at the 1948 Games in London. He would win the Olympic silver four years later in Helsinki. He set his last world record of 181-6 (55.33) in 1948 after the London Olympics.
He was reciting the athletes’ oath when the Olympic Games came to Rome in 1960.
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/71922
Photos:: http://www.listal.com/list/adolfo-consolini
1979– Coming off an indoor season in which he set 7 world records, it seemed inevitable that the Maryland sophomore Renaldo Nehemiah would get the outdoor record, but he surprised even himself when he got it in his first meet, running 13.16 minutes at the Bruce Jenner Classic in San Jose, beating Cuba’s Alejandro Casañas’ previous mark of 13.21.
From “Master of the Art Form” by Steve McGill.
“I ran 13.16 at the Bruce Jenner meet right after spring break. I didn’t want to run the race because Daddy Cooper was going to be there and I didn’t feel ready to run against him. But the trainer (Frank Costello) said I would be fine and I said I didn’t want to race. (to California), but I was motivated for the world record and it had to be off because we hadn’t done any (speed work) yet.”
http://tinyurl.com/Nehemiah1316
McGill hosted a Zoom call with Nehemiah and his high school coach Jean Poquette in 2021.
https://hurdlesfirstbeta.com/2021/04/24/zoom-call-with-nehemiah/
1979–Lorna Griffin In Seattle, threw the Discus 188-4 (57.40) to break his own American record of 187-8 (57.20). Griffin would total nine ARs in the Discus during the 1979 and 1980 seasons, going 207-5 (63.22).
Looking Back (2012). http://spufalcons.com/news/2012/7/18/12_gen_July27.aspx
2001— Future stars among the winners at the Arcadia (CA) HS Inv.
Allison Felix (LA Baptist/CA-100/11.83, 200/23.48) – See April 13
Shannon Rowbury (Sacred Heart, CA-800/2:08.52…bronze medalist in the 1500 at the 2009 World Championships and
2012 Olympic Games; Former American record holder in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters
Give it to Lashinda (Long Beach Wilson, CA-300 Hurdles/40.70)…2011 World Champion-400 Hurdles, Gold Medalist
2012 Olympic Games and 3-time World Championship medalist (silver-2005 and 2009, bronze-2013… former
American record holder (52.47) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lashinda_Demus
Alan Webb (South Lakes, VA-mile/4:01.81-Outdoor PR/ set an outdoor record of 3:53.43 the following.
month)…Former American Mile Record Holder — 3:46.91
Monica Henderson (Morse, CA-400/52.51)…Two-time Olympic gold medalist-4×400 (2004, 2008)
DyeStat coating: http://archive.dyestat.com/us/1out/Arcadia/index.htm
2002–Khalid Khanushi With a winning time of 2:05:38 at the London Marathon, he not only broke his own world record by four seconds, but he reversed two greats in the ‘race of the century’, as Paul Tergat was 2nd in 2:05.48 and Haile Gebrselassie, in his first serious effort at the distance, was 3rd.350.
The women’s race, which had a separate start for the first time, was won by Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe in 2:18:56, just nine seconds off Catherine Ndereba’s world record of 2:18:47.
Since Race Results Weekly:: “22 miles… the race was down to three, and what three. Gebrselassie, Tergat and world record holder Khannouchi. Along the embankment of the Thames was the level of Gebrselassie and Khanushi, with Tergat between them, a step behind. In the last two miles there was Khanuchi who broke and did not respond to Tergat. Tergat soon fell back and everyone started looking at their watches again, he had to run the last mile in 5:49 and he broke 5:45 for 2:05:38.
Both Khannouchi and Radcliffe earned $255,000 in prize money and bonuses, the largest (at the time) in marathon history.
Although she hadn’t competed since 2007 due to a series of injuries, Khanushi, whose 2:05:38 still stands as the American record, didn’t officially break out until 2012.
http://www.marathonguide.com/news/rrw.cfm?AID=766; http://www.letsrun.com/2012/khannouchi-retires-0326.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/specials/london_marathon_2002/1929323.stm
T&F News Cover (May): https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2002-05.jpg
2007— Susie Powell took advantage of a favorable wind at the Maui Big Wind Discus in Wailuku, Hawaii to set an American record of 222-0 (67.67 / still #5 US all-time). The previous record of 216-10 (66.10) was set by Carol Cady 21 years ago (1986).
2024— Lithuania’s Mikolas Alecna took advantage of excellent throwing conditions at the Ramona Throwing Festival in Oklahoma to set a world record 243-11 (74.35) in the discus. The previous best of 243-0 (74.08), set by East Germany’s Jürgen Schult in 1986, was the oldest male record in the event books recognized by World Athletics for record purposes. He also broke his family record (242-5/73.88) held by his father Virgilius, one of the legends of the event (2x-Olympic and 2x-World champion).
The 21-year-old junior at Cal-Berkeley had his best streak ever in the tournament, with two extra throws to crack the all-time top 10 list (at the time).
236-11 72.21; 230-08 70.32; 239-01 72.89; 231-04 70.51; 243-11 74.35; 231-03 70.50
One of the first to congratulate Alekna after his big throw was another WR owner, Ryan Krauser, who was there as a fan before going fishing.
https://trackandfieldnews.com/coach-mo-saatara-talks-discus-prodigy-alekna/
Top 10 of all time (at the time) (From T&F News)
243-11 74.35 Mikola Alekna (Lithuania) 14.4.24.
243-00 74.08 Jürgen Schult (East Germany) 6/06/86.
242-05 73.88 Virgilius Alekna (Lithuania) 8/03/00.
240-09 73.38 Gerd Kanter (Estonia) 9/04/06.
239-01 72.89 ______M. Alecna! 14.4.24:
237-04 72.35 ————V. Alecna! 8/03/00
237-02 72.30 ————Kanter! 9/04/06
236-11 72.21 ______ M. Alekna! 14.4.24:
236-03 72.02 ————Kanter 5/03/07
235-10 71.88 ————Kanter 5/08/08
**10 performances by 4 artists**
235-09 71.86 Yuri Dumchev (Soviet Union) 29.5.83.
235-09 71.86 Daniel Stoll (Sweden) 29.6.19.
235-09 71.86 Kristian Cech (Slovenia) 16.6.23.
235-08 71.84 Piotr Malachowski (Poland) 6/08/13.
235-03 71.70 Robert Fazekas (Hungary) 14.7.02.
234-07 71.50 Lars Riedel (Germany) 03.05.97
Alekna’s WR lasted one day all year as he first threw 245-8 (74.89) in the opening round of 2025 at Ramona, then improved to 247-11 (75.56) with his 4.th throw! Those were the only fair throws of the day. Completion 2th It was Australia’s Matt Denny who cleared 245-4 (74.78), which was further away than Aleqna’s WR last year.
An interview Video (fast forward to 1:32.40): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmXP3Gqnt0c&t=3147s
Born on this day*
Françoise Mbango-Etone – Cameroon 50 (1976) Two-time gold medalist of the Olympic Games – Triple Jump (2004, 2008/2000-10)th)
2-time silver medalist of the World Championship (2001, 2003)
2003 World Indoor Championship silver medalist
Lived in New City during the 2005-2006 academic year while attending St. John’s University
PB:50-6 (15.39/2008/Olympic Record at the time/#3 All Time World)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/83443
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Françoise_Mbango_Etone
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/mbango-etone-makes-history-as-she-becomes-fir
Michelle LaFleur 54 (1972) 5-time NCAA Div.III champion (Cortland)
1991-3000 1994-1500i, X-Country; 1995-1500i, 5000;
Member of 4 NCAA Div.III X-Country Championship teams (No. 1 scorer ’90, ’92, ’94)
Trained Jack Daniels
Inducted into the NCAA Div.III Hall of Fame in 2015.
Allen James 62 (1964) 2-time US Olympian – 1992 (20k Walk-30th), 1996 (50k Walk-24th)
4-time US Champion — 20k Walk (1992-1995); 3-time US Champion-50k walk
4-time US 5k Walk Champion (1993, 1995-1997)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78594
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/allen-james-14241761
Mike Durkin 73 (1953) 2-time USA Olympian – 1500m (1976-1)St stage, 1980-boycott)
Because he hadn’t run much since graduating from Illinois in 1975, he surprised even himself by making the 1976 .
Olympic team. “After only 12 or 14 weeks of training, I was blown away,” Durkin recalls. “I had the whole time
expected to go to trial. I was somewhat surprised, to say the least.”
All-American at Illinois — 2:00 p.mth Tony Waldrop by a mile in 1974. at the NCAA Indoor Championships
Won the 800 and Steeplechase(!) at the 1975 Big-10 Championships.
Together with former competitor Ken Popejo, he trained 3-time Olympian Jim Spivey for 10 years.
PBs1:47.68 (’80), 3:36.72 (’76), 3:56.7 (’75), 8:52.2sc (’75)
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78354
(2005 Article): http://www.forestparkreview.com/News/Articles/11-29-2005/Track-star/
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=1156025
Dead
Valerie Brummel 60 (1942-January 26, 2003) 1964 Olympic gold medalist – high jump (silver-1960)
Set 6 outdoor world records, 2 indoor
Outdoor posts.
7-03 ½ 2.23 Moscow June 18, 1961
7-04 ¼ 2.24 Moscow July 16, 1961
7-04 ½ 2.25 Sofia August 31, 1961
7-05 2.26 Stanford July 22, 1962
7-05 ¼ 2.27 Moscow September 29, 1962
7-05 ¾ 2.28 Moscow July 21, 1963
Career interrupted after serious leg injury in motorcycle accident, eventually bounced back
competition but never regained top form.
His rivalry with his good friend, the American John Thomas, prevailed
After his jumping career ended, he took up acting and writing.
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77392
A tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r0hdHV95sU
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/high-jump-legend-brumel-dies-after-long-illne
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeriy_Brumel
WR progress: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_high_jump_world_record_progression
Uwe Beyer – Germany 49 (1945-April 15, 1993) 1964 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist – Hammer Throw (1968 – Qual.,
1972-4th)
Died a day after turning 48th birthday, possibly as a result of doping abuse during his career.
1971 European champion
PB:245-9 (74.90/1971)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/70155
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uwe_Beyer
Walter Pritchard 72 (1910-August 31, 1982) 1932 US Olympic sprinter (8th)
All-American at Hamilton College — 5 p.mth In the 1931 NCAA Championships in the Mile… the field carries its own in Hamilton
the name
He became a cardiologist. he is credited with performing the first defibrillation to restore a patient’s heartbeat.
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78919
