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By Walt Murphy News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission
This day in athletics – January 4
1980— Norway’s Grete Weitz was already the world record holder in the women’s marathon and was now chasing the record in the indoor 3,000 meters at the Runner’s World Classic (Daly City, Calif.).
Waitz was clear of record holder Ian Merrill (8:57.6) and was on his way to breaking the record when officials, perhaps confused by the runners in the field, forced him to run an extra 160 yards on the 11-lap track. with a 50.8, matching the track mark, but it wasn’t enough to earn record status.
Houston freshman Carl Lewis topped a strong field to win the men’s long jump with a leap of 26-1 ½ (7.96m).
(from Subsequent news)
Important birthdays
Born on this day
Nick Ponzio-USA/Italy (’21/1995) 30: 2022 World Indoor Final (7th) and outdoor (9:th) championships
The California resident obtained Italian citizenship on June 15, 2021, in time for him to be eligible to represent Italy in Italy.
Tokyo Olympics (did not make it to the finals)
It was coached by Ryan Whiting, a 2-time World Indoor Shotgun Champion
The former USC Trojan was 6 years oldth At the 2017 NCAA Championships … spent first year of college on varsity
from Florida but did not wrestle for the Gators.
PB::71-7 1/2 (21.83/2022), 70-10 3/4i (21.61/2022/Italian record)
Banned for 18 months “for breach of venue” (February 28, 2023-August 27, 2024)
Aware of his impending suspension, he announced his retirement after competing in the 2023 Drake Relays…
The “retirement” was short-lived as he returned to competition on August 27, the day after his ban ended.
2024… 70-6 ½ (21.50), which was his best mark of the season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Yf7Ym1mp0
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1143063/mick-pomzio-doping-accepts-18-month
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/italy/nick-ponzio-14521979
USC Bio:: https://usctrojans.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/nick-ponzio/6206
Julius Yego-Kenya 36 (1989) 2015 world champion javelin thrower
Participated in 5 additional world championships in 2013. (4:th), 2017 (13:th), 2019-2022-2023 (qualification stage)
2016 Olympic Games silver medalist (2012-11th2021-Qual., 2024-5)
2014 Commonwealth Games Champion
I learned how to throw the javelin by watching YouTube videos of throwers like the legendary Jan Zhelezny.
PB: 304-2 (92.72/2015/African Record, #7 All Time World); 2024 SB287-9 (87.72)
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/127005
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Yego
YouTube Man:
https://olympics.com/en/news/internet-helped-julius-yego-to-hurl-himself-into-record-books
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuln_lTihS8
’15 WC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdfmagI8NK4
Marla Runyan –l:organ 56 (1969) 3-time US champion – 5000 m (2001-2003)
2000 US Indoor Championship-3000m
the first legally blind runner to compete in the Olympics; In 2000, he took 8th place in the 1500 meters at the Olympic Games.
Sydney. In 2004, he participated in the first round of the 5000 in Athens. 10th in the heptathlon at the 1996 US Trials.
10th in the 1500 at the 1999 World Championships
1999 Pan American Games Champion – 1500 m
Set an American indoor record of 15:07.33 for 5,000 meters in 2001.
2006 US Marathon Champion (last race of his career)
Competed collegiately at San Diego State
husband Matt Lonergan He is the Head X-Country Coach at Northeastern University (Asst.-T&F).
Currently Manager of Athletes with a Disability at the BAA/Boston Marathon
PBs:2:03.18 (’99), 4:02.95 (’02), 8:39.36 (’02), 14:59.20 (’04), 15:07.33i (’01), 2:27:10 (’02 ): ) ), 5761 (’96)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/89163
https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a20820064/retired-pro-marla-runyan-continues-to-inspire/
https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a32189184/marla-runyan-para-athletes/
https://www.bostonherald.com/2014/09/13/marla-runyan-inspires-at-perkins-nu/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marla_Runyan
2001 Article: http://www.howtobefit.com/marla-runyan.htm
https://myhero.com/Runyan_michigan_US_08
https://www.baa.org/baa-names-marla-runyan-athletes-disabilities-manager
Leslie Maxey 58 (1967) 1987 NCAA Champion-4×400 (USC/51.4-anchor)
2:th 400-meter hurdles at the 1987 NCAA Championships
A 16-year-old junior (Mills HS, CA) at the time, he finished 2ndth Set HS record 55.20 at 1984 USA Championships
it took 32 years until Sidney McLaughlin ran 54.46 in 2016. It remained his career best.
Became a broadcaster for ESPN, Fox and NBC, covering many sports including Track & Field
1988 USA Olympian (1:St round)
PB::55.20 (1984)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Maxie
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77908
https://athletexbrand.com/leslie-maxie
Marjorie Larney 87 (1937) 2 times USA Olympian-Javelin (1952-13th1956-11th)…15 at the time he was competing
1952 Olympics
6-time US champion: discus (1954), javelin (1952, 1957-1960)
While in Helsinki, 15-year-old Larni went sightseeing with teammate Mabel Landry
a shop that sold sports equipment, including spears. After watching him, he uses the Finnish throwing style
got a feel for the expensive tool, the impressed shopkeeper let him buy it at half price.Standing in the rain
During the opening ceremony, Larney and Landry noticed the name of the man who had just been on the scoreboard.
lit the Olympic flame. It was Hannes Kolehmainen, the original “Flying Finn”, who won 4 gold medals.
1912 and 1920 Olympic Games. It was also the man who had sold Larney’s spear. (See link below)
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77896
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Larney
A young girl in Finland (great article). https://www.irishamerica.com/2008/08/a-flying-javelin-marjorie-larney/
Dead
Eddie Southern 85 (1938-May 17, 2023) 1956 Olympic Games silver medalist – 400 m hurdles
1959 NCAA Champion-440y (Texas/1958-2th)
Member of three world record transfer teams.
440 (Texas)-39.9 (1957) Wallace Wilson, Eddie Souter, Hollis Gainey, Bobby Whilden
880 (Texas)-1:22.7 (1957) Wallace Wilson, Eddie Souter, Hollis Gainey, Bobby Whilden
Mile (USA)-3:05.6 (1960) Eddie Southern-47.2, Earl Young-46.4, Otis Davis-45.9, Jack Yerman-46.1
#1 prep in USA 1955-20.7 yrs/straight, 47.2 yrs
PBs:9.5y (1958), 20.5y/straight (1958), 45.5y (1958), 14.1y (1957), 49.7 (1956)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79073
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Southern
https://texassports.com/sports/general/roster/eddie-southern/1467
Pat “Paddy” Ryan – Ireland/USA 83 (1881-February 3, 1964)
The Irish native was an American citizen when he became a gold medalist at the 1920 Olympics
Hammer Throw (Silver – 56 lb)
Set the first IAAF world record of 189-6 (57.77) in 1913, which stood for 25 years
40 years American record;
7-time US champion (1913-1917, 1919-1921)
Inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 2014; One of the legendary “Irish Whales”.
WR progress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_hammer_throw_world_record_progression
Hall of Fame Biography: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/pat-paddy-ryan
Irish whales
http://www.theirishstory.com/2012/06/22/irelands-forgotten-olympians-the-irish-whales/#.WGxushy1_74
