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By Walt Murphy News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission
This day at the race – December 26
2002— The car driven by Michelle Freeman, the 1997 60-meter hurdles world champion, overturned on the road.
in Florida, resulting in the deaths of Freeman’s mother and Ilre Oliver-Sparks, formerly of the University of Tennessee.
runner who was an academic adviser to the longtime Texas women’s coach, Bev
Kearney, who was confined to a wheelchair for several years after the accident (see link).
settlement with the University of Texas in June 2018 regarding a discrimination lawsuit.
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/michelle-freeman-devastation-and-tragedy-bu
Recovery (Kearney): https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/you-learn-that-the-impossible-is-possible-say
Important birthdays
Born on this day
Johan Blake-Jamaica 35:00 (1989) 2011 World Champion – 100m (partner Usain Bolt false start after practice), 4×100
Two-time gold medalist of the Olympic Games – 4×100 (2012, 2016)
Two-time Olympic silver medalist — 100,200 (2012)
4:th 200 in the 2016 Olympics and 2017 World Championships
5:00th in the 2019 World Cup 100
Anchored Jamaica’s 4×200 relay team that set a world record of 1:18.63 in 2014.
(Nickel Ashmid, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown, Blake)
Saved from injuries in 2013-2015
Ran 10.11 100 meters in 2007 at age 17
Played a key role in one of the greatest races in Penn Relays history in 2007. After anchoring St. Jago to victory.
HS Boys 4×100, he didn’t just catch Long Beach Poly (CA)’s Bryshon Nellum in a flurry.
4×400 anchor leg (45.4 splits for both).
PBs: 6.45i (2023), 9.69 (2012/=#2 All Time), 19.26 (2011/#2 All Time)46.32 (2013); 2024 SB:10.16:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yohan_Blake
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/jamaica/yohan-blake-14201842
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/120717
2007 Penn 4×400 (MUST WATCH): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzwPLQt6urE
All time lists: http://www.alltime-athletics.com/men.htm
Cherry (Goddard) Kenah 54 (1970) All-American at Villanova (2nd in NCAA 3000(i) 1999, 4th in 2000)
3-time Olympic Development Mile Winner at Penn Relays (1998-2000)
Member of two winning relays at Penn.
1990-4×1500 17:18.10 (CR-Nnenna Lynch 4:25.8, Sonia O’Sullivan 4:13.5, Goddard 4:21.6, Kathy Franey 4:17.2); 1991-DMR
PBs. 4:09.16 (2002), 4:30.75 (1997), 8:42.68 (1998), 15:10.50 (2000), 32:24.06 (2000)
Married to Rich Kenna, 1997 World Indoor and Outdoor Championships bronze medalist in the 800 and
is currently the executive director of the Atlanta Track Club.
Ted Castaneda 73 (1951) Coached at Colorado College from 1981 until his retirement on December 15, 2020
All-American in Colorado — 2:00 p.mth Steve Prefontaine in the 3 mile at the 1973 NCAA Championships in Button
Rouge; 2:th At the 1974 NCAA Championships in the 6 mile (2th Within 2 miles);
5:00th In the year 5000, 6th in the 10,000 at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials;
PBs3:58.3 (1974), 13:10.64/3-mile (#2 All-Time Collegiate), 28:30.60 (1973), 2:15:10 (1979);
https://cctigers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=908&path=mtf
Colorado Running Hall of Fame: https://corunninghalloffame.com/2013/01/31/ted-castaneda/
Retirement: https://www.scacsports.com/sports/mxc/2020-21/releases/Castaneda_Retirement
Pat Matzdorf 75 (1949) 1970 NCAA Champion – High Jump (1971-5)th/ Wisconsin)
Stradler broke Valerie Brummel’s world record (7-5 ​​¾ (2.28)) in the high jump with a clearance of 7-6 ¼.
(2.2924)/1971) in a match involving the USA, the Soviet Union and the World All-Stars
only 7′-3″ (2.21) at the meet. (Ukraine’s Vladimir Yashchenko was the last runner to complete the WR
event — jumped 7-7 3/4 (2.33) in 1977, 7-8 (2.34) in 1978)
WR hampered by injuries after performance
Appeared as a mystery guest on What’s My Line? in an old TV show where celebrities had to guess who you were.
have you been or what have you done (it took them a while to find out what Matzdorf did).
Sports Illustrated: https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/01/31/getting-up-in-the-world
T&F News Cover (July 1): https://trackandfieldnews.com/tfn-covers-1971/
https://uwbadgers.com/honors/university-of-wisconsin-athletic-hall-of-fame/pat-matzdorf/144
50th birthday:
https://trackandfieldnews.com/pat-matzdorfs-surprise-world-record-turns-50/
https://uwbadgers.com/news/2021/7/2/mens-track-field-50-years-ago-a-world-record-for-matzdorf.aspx
Dead
George Fran 64 (1941 – June 26, 2006) Two-time champion of the USA – Hammer (1970,1971)
6-time US 35-pound champion (1973-1973, 1975, 1977)
1972 US Olympian (qual.)
PBs73-3 ½ (22.34/1969/ World record at the time), 232-7 (70.89/1970)
https://vault.si.com/vault/1970/03/09/he-knows-how-to-through-his-weight-around
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frenn
YES Composition:
Ralph Hill 85 (1908-October 17, 1994) 1932 Olympic Games silver medalist — 5000 m
Former American record holder in the Mile — 4:12.4 (1930)
All-American in the mile at Oregon – NCAA (1929-4)th1930-6th1931-2th)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78553
https://onceuponatimeinthevest.blogspot.com/2020/11/v-10-n-74-potpourri-of-stories-and.html
http://www.racingpast.ca/bob-philips.php?id=31
Barbara Jacket 87 (1934 – January 6, 2022) Former coach at Prairie View A&M (1965-1991)
Head coach of the US women’s team at the 1992 Olympics.
Inducted into the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001
https://www.usatf.org/news/2022/women-s-track-field-pioneer-barbara-jacket-dies
https://www.ustfccca.org/awards/barbara-jacket-ustfccca-class-of-2001
Also a member of the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Jacket
