Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
This Day in Track & Field–May 8
1909–American Albert Raines won the Bronx-Marathon in 2:46:04.6, which was faster than the listed World Record, but Great Britain’s Henry Barrett ran 2:42:31.0 earlier in the day in London. (Some sources list the date for Barrett’s race as May 26, but evidence suggests it actually took place on May 8).
World Record Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_world_record_progression
A look back(with a picture of the trophy Raines won/might require subscription).
Boulder restaurateur’s ancestor left brief, mysterious mark on the marathon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Raines
1937—USC teammates Earle Meadows and Bill Sefton rode their bamboo poles to a height of 14-8 ½ (4.48) at the USC-Stanford dual meet at Stanford to break Sefton’s American Record of 14-7 3/8 (4.45). The marks were never recognized as a World Record, but the “Heavenly Twins” took care of that later in the month (May 29) when they both cleared 14-11 (4.54).
Meadows, the 1936 Olympic Champion, was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1996.
Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/earle-meadows
1954–Future 2-time Olympic gold medalist and Hall-of Famer Parry O’Brien (USC), using his innovative “O’Brien Glide” , broke the 60-foot barrier in the Shot Put with his winning toss of 60-5 ¼ (18.42) in the USC-UCLA dual meet in L.A.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression
http://www.trackerati.com/2014/05/sixtys-sixtieth-parry-obrien.html
1965–This proved to be a good date for barrier breaking as Texas A&M freshman Randy Matson, who had just turned 20 in March, became the first 70-footer in the Shot Put. Another future Hall-of-Famer (and 1968 Olympic gold medalist), Matson got his big toss of 70-7 ¼ (21.52) in the opening round at the Southwest Conference Championships on his home field in College Station, Texas.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression
1965–Three World (and Collegiate) Relay Records were set at the West Coast Relays in Fresno, California. Stanford ran 39.7 in the 440y, Oklahoma State 7:18.4 in the 2-mile, and UCLA 9:34.0 in the Distance Medley.
In addition, collegiate freshmen records were set by Washington State’s Gerry Lindgren in the 2-mile (8:40.2), and Mt.SAC’s Bob Seagren in the Pole Vault (16-1/4 [4.995?]).
440y:Eric Frische, Dale Rubin, Robert McIntyre, Larry Questad
2-Mile: Jim Metcalf-1:50.6, John Perry-1:47.5, Tom von Ruden-1:49.3, Dave Perry-1:51.0
The team was inducted into the Oklahoma State Hall of Fame in 2024
https://onceuponatimeinthevest.blogspot.com/2024/10/v-14-n-67-oklahoma-state-4×880-world.html
DMR(y-WB): Dennis Breckow-1:49.5, Bob Frey-47.8, Arnd Kruger/GER-2:58.3, Bob Day-3:58.4
1971—18-year old Beth Bonner (a month shy of turning 19) set a World Record of 3:01:42 at the AAU Eastern Regional Marathon in Philadelphia’s Fairmont Park. She would become the first female winner of the NY City Marathon 4 months later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_world_record_progression
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beth_Bonner
1988—Tom McCants beat training partner Jerome Carter on misses as both men cleared 7-9 ¼ (2.37) at the Jesse Owens meet in Columbus, Ohio, to break Jim Howard’s American Record in the High Jump (7-8 ¾ [2.36m]). Read more at the link below.
Another American Record was set in the Women’s Shot Put by Ramona Pagel, who broke her own 2-week old mark of 63-6 ¼ (19.36) with her winning toss of 64-2 ½ (19.57). Pagel was a 4-time Olympian and a member of four World Championship teams. http://tinyurl.com/CarterMcCants; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramona_Pagel
2004–20-year old Liu Xiang of China got his first win in the 110-Meter Hurdles on the international circuit, setting an Asian Record of 13.06 while beating his idol, Allen Johnson (13.13), in Osaka, Japan. He went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Athens later in the year. Said Liu, “I’m really happy about it. I believe this win will remain in my mind for a long time”.
https://worldathletics.org/news/news/asian-record-for-xiang-in-osaka
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Xiang_(hurdler)
2004—Stanford grad Toby Stevenson became the 2nd American to join an exclusive club when he vaulted 6-meters (19-8 ¼) at the Modesto Relays. He beat Jeff Hartwig (18-10 ¼ [5.75]), the first American to join the club, and Brad Walker (18-6 ½ [5.65]), who would join in 2006.
Stevenson, dubbed “Crash” by TV commentator Dwight Stones because of the trademark helmet he wore during competition, went on to win the silver medal at the Athens Olympics later in the year. He’s now the Associate Head Coach at the University of Washington. https://gohuskies.com/coaches.aspx?rc=4020&path=track
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/MODESTO-RELAYS-Stanford-grad-clears-6-meters-2760696.php
Members of the American 6-meters Club (And the Year They Joined)
Jeff Hartwig 1998
Toby Stevenson 2004
Tim Mack 2004
Brad Walker 2006
Sam Kendricks 2017
KC Lightfoot 2021
Chris Nilsen 2022
2015—19-year old Matthew Maton, a senior at Summit(OR) H.S., ran 3:59.38 at the Oregon Twilight Meet at Hayward Field in Eugene to become the 6th U.S. prep to break 4-minutes for the Mile. Maton finished 3rd in the race behind Oregon’s Eric Jenkins (3:57.09) and Will Geoghegan (3:57.53).
http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/matthew-maton-becomes-sixth-us-high-school-sub-400-miler
Born On This Day*
Ajee’ Wilson 31 (1994) 2022 World Indoor Champion—800m
Bronze medalist in the 800-meters at the 2017 and 2019 World Outdoor Championships and a silver medalist at
the 2016 & 2018 World Indoor Championships; 6th at the 2013 World Outdoor Championships, 8th in 2022
4-time U.S. Champion (’14,’17,’18,’19); 3rd at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, 2022 (2nd), 2023 (8th), 2024 O.T.
(semi-finalist)
8-time U.S. Indoor Champion (800 unless otherwise noted/’13, ’14, ’16, ’17-600m, ’18, ’19-1000m, ’20, ‘22)
2-time Olympic semi-finalist (2016, 2021)
Improved her American Indoor Record to 1:58.29 at the 2020 Millrose Games…Thought she had set her 1st
Record when she ran 1:58.27 at the 2017 Millrose Games, but the mark was nullified after she failed a drug
test. She didn’t receive a ban, but did lose the record (See USADA link).
Set American Outdoor Records in the 600 (1:22.39) and 800 (1:55.61) in 2017 (lost the 800 record to Athing
Mu in 2021)
Anchored (1:58.4) the U.S. team that set a World Indoor Record of 8:05.89 in the 4×800 relay at the 2018
Millrose Games (Previous record was 8:06.24);
2011 World Youth Champion—800m; 2012 World Junior Champion-800m;
World Rankings: 2013 (7/#3), 2014 (2/#1-US), 2015 (6/#1-US), 2017 (3/#1-US), 2018 (3/#1-U.S.), 2019
(#1/#1), 2022 (#7/#2); Add’l U.S. rankings-2016 (#2), 2021 (#4), 2023 (#8)
PBs:1:22.39 (#3-All-Time World/NR), 1:23.84i (‘17/#5 A-T World/#3 U.S.), 1:55.61 (‘17/#2 A-T U.S.),
1:58.29i (‘20/AR), 2:34.71i (‘19/#3 U.S.), 4:05.18 (’18), 4:33.57 (’16); 2025 SB: 2:02.29
2022 WIC: https://www.nbcsports.com/video/2022-world-indoor-championships-ajee-wilson-wins-womens-800m
“It’s Ah-ZHAY”!:
www.runblogrun.com/2015/06/ajee-wilson-they-still-cant-get-her-name-straight-by-elliott-denman.html
T&F News Interview (2018): https://trackandfieldnews.com/article/tfn-interview-ajee-wilson/
IAAF Spikes (2014): http://spikes.iaaf.org/post/ajee-wilson-dead-good-at-running
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajee%27_Wilson
USADA Ruling
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/132012
Galen Rupp 39 (1986) 2012 Olympic silver medalist—10,000 meters; (5th-5000/2008-13th in the 10k)
2016 Olympic bronze medalist—Marathon (5th-10k); Winner at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in his marathon
debut; Qualified for his 4th U.S. Olympic team with his win at the 2020 Marathon Trials (2:09:20)…finished 8th at the Tokyo Olympics 8-time U.S. Champion—10,000 meters (2009-2016); 2012 U.S. Champion—5000m
World Championships: (10k)-’07-11, ’09-8, ’11-7, ’13-4, ’15-5; (5k)’11-9, ’13-8,’15-5
2nd at the 2017 Boston Marathon (2:09:58); Disappointed that he had to drop out of the 2018 race in Boston, but
bounced back by winning the Prague Marathon less than a month later with a personal best time of 2:06:07
Oregon grad won five individual NCAA titles during his senior year–won the Cross Country
title in the fall of 2008, and the 3000 and 5000 indoors, and the 5000 and 10,000 outdoors in 2009
Had been coached by Alberto Salazar since his prep days at Central Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon, until
2019, when Salazar was hit with a 4-year ban… Wife Keara, twins Grayson and Emmie born in 2014
PBs:
1500: 3:34.78i (2013/#9 All-Time U.S.)
Mile: 3:50.92i (’13)
2000: 5:00.01i (‘14)
3000: 7:30.16i (’13/#6 A-T U.S./#8 Ind/Out)
2-Mile: 8:07.41 (’14/#3 A-T U.S./#4 Ind/Out)
5000:12:58.90 (’12), 13:01.26i (’14/#9 A-T U.S.)
10,000: 26:44.36 (’14/#2 A-T U.S.)
Half-Marathon: 59:47 (’18/#3 A-T U.S.)
Marathon: 2:06:07 (’18/#4 A-T U.S./all conditions)
(May,2015): www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/index.ssf/2015/05/at_long_last_portland_distance.html
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galen_Rupp
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/114968
T&F News Interview (2010): https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/rupp.pdf
Bershawn “Batman” Jackson 42 (1983) 2005 World Champion—400-meter hurdles;
Bronze medalist—‘08 Olympics, ‘09 World Championships;
4-time World Champion—4×400 relay (outdoors—’07,’09, ’11; Indoors-’10)
5-time U.S. Champion (’03,’08-’10,’15); 2-time U.S. Indoor Champion—400m (’05,’10)
2002 U.S. Junior Champion—400m hurdles—bronze medalist 2002 World Junior Champs
2004 NCAA Div.II Champion—was coached by George Williams, during and after his time at St.Augustine’s
Competed at 6 straight World Championships (’05-1,’07-semis,’09-,’11-6,’13-heat,’15-heat)
Ranked #1 in the world in 2005, 2010, 2015.
7th at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials; Had originally planned to retire after the 2017 season, but he finished 4th at
the 2018 U.S. Championships and had a season’s best of 49.08. Ranked #4 in the U.S. in 2018 (his final
appearance in the Rankings)
PBs: 45.06 (’07), 47.30 (’05/#8-All-Time U.S.)…last competed in 2018
Earned his nickname (Batman) as a kid because he had “ears like a bat’s and was so fast he
seemed to fly”
Among the athletes he coached is daughter Shawnti, who is now at the University of Arkansas
’05 WC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM6UWJpN088
T&F News Rankings: https://trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/bershawn-jackson-14241618
Inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4QRlcLPTp4
T&F News Interview (2010): https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/jackson2.pdf
Michelle Finn-Burrell 60 (1965) 1992 Olympic gold medalist—4×100 (1st round, 7th in the 200);
Silver medalist 1993 World Championships—4×100
1990 U.S. Champ.-100m; 3-time U.S. Indoor Champion (1990-55m, 1991,1992-60m)
1985 NCAA Indoor Champion—55m(Florida State)
2-time finalist World Indoor Championships—60m(1987-5th, 1991-7th)
Married to Auburn head coach Leroy Burrell, the former World Record holder at 100-meters. Son Cameron, who
passed away in 2021, was the 2018 NCAA Champion in the 100-meters while at Houston.
PBs: 7.07 (’92), 11.05 (’90), 22.39 (’92)
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Finn-Burrell
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77827#
Deceased
(Otis) Paul Drayton 70 (1939–March 2, 2010) 1964 Olympic silver medalist—200m, gold medalist in the 4×100
Ran the lead-off leg on the team that set a World Record of 39.0 (39.06) at the 1964 Olympics. Anchored the
team that set the previous record of 39.1 against the Soviet Union in 1961.
1961–Hayes Jones, Frank Budd, Charles Frazier, Paul Drayton
1964–Paul Drayton, Gerry Ashworth, Richard Stebbins, Bob Hayes
3-time U.S. Champion—220y (1961,1962,1963-tied w/Henry Carr)…ran 20.5 at the 1962 meet to equal the
World Record for 220-yards and 200-meters.
Villanova All-American was 2nd in the 220y at the 1961 (to teammate Frank Budd) and 1962 NCAA
Championships. 5th in the 100y in 1962.
“Paul had a great heart and a will to win,” said fellow Clevelander Harrison Dillard, a four-time Olympic gold
medalist, at the time of Drayton’s death. “He loved the sport. He understood the sport. He knew about the
sport’s history. He knew about us older guys.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Drayton_(athlete)
http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/03/former_cleveland_olympian_paul.html
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78337
1964 4×100:
