Walt Murphy is one of the best trailers I know. Walt does #ThisDayinTrack&FieldHistory, a great daily service about our sport. You can check it out for FREE with a one-month free trial (email: WaltMurphy44@gmail.com ). for the entire daily service We will be posting some historical moments every day starting February 1, 2024.
By Walt Murphy News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission
This day in athletics, January 8
1928 Lloyd Hahn ran 1:53.8 in Brooklyn to set world records in the 800 meters and 880 yards.The two-time US Olympian was 6th
1500 in the 1924 Games, 5th in the 800 in 1928.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Hahn
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78495
1971– Dr. Delano Meriwether had gained some attention in the track world in 1970 when this “unknown” began to run fast for the 100-yard dash in some low-level meets on the East Coast. “Hey, I can beat those guys,” and that led to an incredible career.
But now, at the University of Maryland’s CYO meet in College Park, in his first major indoor meet, he was up against the same men who had inspired his entry into the sport as world-class sprinters like Charlie Green, Mel: Pender, Ivory Crockett and Don Quarry.
Green was eliminated in the 60-yard dash, while Pender tied the world record with a 5.9 in his qualifying race.
Dressed in a hospital gown, gold bathing suit, and suspenders (!), Meriwether beat Pender in the finals, both clocking a 6-story time, and a legend was born.
Meriwether later won the 100th U.S. Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, but a knee injury during the 1972 indoor season dashed all hopes of making the U.S. Olympic team. Check out the links below for much more on this fascinating story.
Other notable winners of the meet included Lee Evans, who improved his world record for 500 yards to 54.4, and Tom Von Ruden, who set an American record of 1:48.5 1/2 miles.
Sports Illustrated Archive
https://vault.si.com/vault/1971/01/18/hey-i-can-beat-those-guys
https://vault.si.com/vault/1971/02/22/champion-of-the-armchair-athletes
AND: Cover photo:
2022— Winners (and notable finishers) at the USA Cross Country Championships in San Diego;
Senior Men (10k): 1.Shadrak Kipchirchir 30:32, 2.Dillon Maggard 30:34, 3.Sam Chelanga 30:34, 4.Leonard Korir 30:37, 5.Benard.
Keter 30:49…7.Ben Blankenship 31:37…9.Footsum Zinaselassie 32:03
Senior Women (10k): 1.Alicia Monson 34:01, 2.Vaini Kelati 34:18, 3.Emily Infeld 34:36, 4.Emily Durgin 34:50, 5.Stephanie Bruce
34:50, 6. Natosha Rogers 34:54…8. Molly Seidel
Women’s Junior/Under 20: 1. Zariel Machia (William Floyd HS, New York)
Junior/Men’s 20-and-under: 1. Gabe Simonsen (Oklahoma State)
https://results.usatf.org/2022XC/
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a38700405/usatf-cross-country-championships-results-2022/
Important birthdays
Born on this day*
Quincy Wilson 17 (2008) 2024 Olympic gold medalist in the 4×400 (ran 1St round)
At the age of 16 at the time, he became the youngest American male Olympic gold medalist in history (already the youngest U.S.
male Olympian)
He made the USA team with his 6th 400 at the US Trials at 44.66 runs in 1stSt round in Eugene to break 42
The US high school record of 44.69 was set by Darrell Robinson in 1982.
semi-final race before running 44.94 in the final.He would then run a sensational 44.20 in Gainesville, Fla. on July 19.
before heading to Paris for the Olympics (improving his world youth/under-18 record).
Ran a surprisingly “slow” 47.27 on the heat leg of the 4 x400, handing out in 7th.th place, but the US still managed
to qualify for the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMkLfUCSDG0
2023 New Balance Indoor Champion – 400m (2th outside)…won the Indoors (setting the US high school indoor
45.76 record) and outside in 2024
Currently studying at The Bullis School (MD)
Set the US high school freshman records in the 300 (34.11), 400 (46.67), 500 (1:02.63) and 600 (1:17.80) in 2023.
2024 added sophomore records in the 400 (45.76), 500 (1:01.27) and 600 (1:17.36) and got the junior record
600 when he ran 1:07.19 on December 28, 2024.
Competing since age 8… “As Wilson approached high school, his parents, Monique and Roy Wilson, sought
school with a coaching staff that could make the most of his talent.The family moved from Chesapeake, Va., to Gaithersburg,
M.
in 2020.” (From Washington Post article linked below)
A member of the soccer team freshman year, but is now fully focused on track
Also excels in the classroom, maintaining an A average.
One of (if not THE) youngest athlete to sign a NIL deal (New Balance).
Signature feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hb5P3sdA30
Coached by Joe Lee, who has made Bullis one of the top prep programs in the US
DyeStat interview: https://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?video_id=373218
https://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=670663
FloTrack Podcast (2024):
https://www.flotrack.org/collections/6752165-the-flotrack-podcast-clips/video?playing=11854575
PBs: 21.02i (2024), 45.76i (2024), 44.20 (2024), 1:01.27i (2024/#2 All Time), 1:17.19i (2024/#2 All Time)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/06/15/quincy-wilson-bullis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_quincy_wilson/?hl=en
44.20:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er_XGQk5lsU
Meet Quincy Wilson!:
Jessica Byrd-36 (1989) 2011 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion-400m, 4×400 (Texas A&M);
2011 Bowerman Award Winner;
2:th Personal best 50.08 at 2018 U.S. Championships, ran 50.52 in May to better his previous record
50.56 personal best set 9 years ago (2009).
4-time world champion — 4×400 (2009-1St phase, 2011/2013/2019-1St round/ 2015-silver (1:St round));
2-time World Junior Champion — 4×400 (2006/400-5th, 2008/400-2th)
PBs50.79i (2011), 50.08 (2018);
Currently coaches at Archbishop Spalding HS in Maryland
http://www.ustfccca.org/2011/12/featured/jessica-beard-ngoni-makusha-win-the-bowerman-2011
http://jessicabeard.net/biography.php
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/jessica-beard-14305526
Hollis Conway-58 (1967) In 1991 world champion in high jump
2 Olympic Games medalists – silver (1988), bronze (1992)
Set the American indoor record at 7-10 ½ (2.40) in 1991.Outdoor best is 7-10 (#2-US)
1989 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion (Louisiana-Lafayette);
Still holds college indoor (7-9 ¼ (2.37)/1989) and outdoor (7-9 ¾ (2.38)/1989) records
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollis_Conway
Video (1991 World Indoors:). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaijDxfgtWk
Hall of Fame Biography: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/hollis-conway
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78260
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/hollis-conway-14235241
Catching Up (2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re4U_V6jLhI
Calvin Smith-64 (1961) 2-time world champion – 200 m (1983, 1987); Also 1983 World Champion-4×100
1984 Olympic Games gold medalist (4×100); 1988 Olympic Games bronze medalist – 100 m;
1983 World Championship silver medalist – 100 m; Former world record holder: 100 m.
All-American at Alabama. NCAA-100 (1980-4th1981-6th1982-DQ/FS, 1983-2th); 200 (1982-2:th), 1983-2th);
1982 US Champion – 200m; PBs:9.93 (1983), 19.99 (1983)
Son Calvin, JrHe was a 3-time gold medalist at the World Indoor Championships (2012-2014-2016) in 4×400 and
had a 400 PB of 44.81
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Smith
Hall of Fame Biography: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/calvin-smith
https://msfame.com/inductees/calvin-smith/
9.93:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-FszWWEbk
Jos Hermans-Holland 75 (1950) One of the leading sports agents/managers… his company among athletes,
Global Sports Communication presented (or still presents: Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Eliud Kipchoge).
Former world record holder in 1 hour (2x), 10 miles and 20,000 meters (2x)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos_Hermens
https://www.globalsportscommunication.nl/company/our-team/
In the beginning:
http://www.thegeniusworks.com/2016/04/jos-hermens-created-worlds-leading-sports-management-company/
Dead
Bill McChesney, Jr.-33 (1959-Oct. 29, 1992)) 1980 Olympics — 5000 m (boycott year);
All-American at Oregon: NCAA (1980-5k/3th3-mile/6th); A member of the Ducks’ 1977 NCAA Championship run
X-Country team (28:th/4:th scorer)
PBs3:56.38 (1981), 7:40.19 (1982), 13:14.80 (1982), 27:47.25 (1981)
He died in a car accident in 1992
Was a member of Eugene’s No. 1 running family.Dad Bill, Sr., who died in 2020 at age 91, participated in:
The road races are still in their 80s, and he and his wife, Marcia, have been officials at Hayward Field for decades
The other 3 sons, Tom, Ken and Steve, all had successful running careers (Tom also died at an early age).
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mcchesney-361144-prefontaine-steve.html
