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By Walt Murphy News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission
This day in the field of athletics – November 8
1887— Edward Carter won the fourth of his five US/AU X-Country titles at Mott Haven (1885-1888, 1892). Only Don Lash (7) and Pat Porter (8) won more titles. Carter actually won two Nationals won the title in 1887. From Wikipedia:
The first events to claim the title of national championship were the American Individual Cross Country Championships, organized by the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) in Mott Haven, Bronx, beginning in 1883. conducting championships. Both organizations held championships in 1887. Coincidentally, both were won by Edward C. Carter: The NCCA held its last championship in 1892 at Morris Park Racecourse. The NYAC revived the series in 1897 at Morris Park as well (there were no championships from 1893-1896).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Cross_Country_Championships
Some History: https://rrunnin234.com/2020/12/09/some-history-of-the-usa-cross-country-championships-1883-2020/
1968— It took 8 years, but Olga Connolly finally reclaimed the American discus record from Earlene Brown with her throw of 178-5 (54.38) in Long Beach, Calif. Connolly, who won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics while competing for her native Czechoslovakia (as Olga Fikotova) before American hammer thrower Harold Marrying Connolly, threw 169-9 3/8 (51.75) in 1958, just missing the record. Brown, who threw 176-10 (53.90) in 1960;
https://www.kcet.org/history-society/olga-connolly-an-amazing-olympic-and-american-love-story
1970— China’s Nie Chih-Chin cleared 7:6 (2.29) in Shanshan to break the world record of 7-5 ¾ (2.28) held by Valery Brummel of the Soviet Union (and Russia).
China was not a member of the IAAF at the time, and the record was never put forward for ratification.The mark was set under unique circumstances, as reported by Track and Field News. “He missed his first attempt, so the crowd (of 80,000) started chanting one of Chairman Mao’s quotes. hurdles to final victory.” On his next jump, Nee cleared… Nee’s only comment was reportedly: “If my leaps were as high as Chairman Mao’s thoughts, I would need a fire escape to measure them.” Promotion of IAAF World Records)
