This Day in Track & Field–January 26
1906—Mel Sheppard set a World Indoor Record of 4:25.2 for the Mile at a meet hosted by Columbia University at Madison Square Garden, and Lawson Robertson won the 300-yards in 33.4. Both events served as U.S. Championship races.
From the NY Times Archives: “The crowd was there, one of the largest that has ever been seen in the Garden during an athletic meet. The boxes were all occupied, chiefly by attractively gowned women, making the event characteristic of the annual open-air championship contests”.
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1906/01/27/101710087.html?pageNumber=7
1916—USC’s Howard Drew made the most of his cross-country trip to NY’s Madison Square Garden, winning the 70-yard dash at the Millrose Games and tying the World Record of 7.2 that he already shared with others. It took officials some time before deciding that Drew had indeed beaten Guy Morse.
The meet drew such a big crowd that the Fire Department ordered the Garden doors to be closed well before 9pm.
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1916/01/27/301838782.html?pageNumber=8
1952-A standing-room-only crowd of more than 15,000 watched some of the sport’s biggest names, many of whom went on to Olympic success in Helsinki later in the year, perform at the Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden.
Don Gerhmann won his 4th straight Wanamaker Mile, edging rival Fred Wilt by a foot. It was the 3rd year in a row that Wilt had finished 2nd to Gerhmann.
Two other Millrose streaks were extended by Bob Richards in the Pole Vault (15-0 [4.57]) and Harrison Dillard in the 60y-Hurdles (7.5). It was the 6th straight win for both men, with Richards going on to win 11 straight times at Millrose and Dillard 9 times!
Morgan State’s George Rhoden (1:12.0) held off Charlie Moore to win the Mel Sheppard 600y, with Jamaica’s Herb McKinley trailing in 3rd place.
Roscoe Lee Browne, who would later become a successful actor, won a slowish 880y (1:56.7) in a photo-finish over Mal Whitfield, Horace Ashenfelter (9:07.4) won the 2-mile, and Manhattan College’s Lindy Remigino (6.2) was the upset winner in the 60y-dash.
Remigino (100), Rhoden (400), Whitfield (800), Dillard (110-Hurdles), Moore (400-Hurdles), Ashenfelter (Steeplechase), and Richards (PV) all won Olympic gold in Helsinki. McKinley and Rhoden won gold in the 4×400 relay, while McKinley also won silver medals in the 100 and 400!
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/01/27/84189979.html?pageNumber=164
1963—Taipei’s C.K. Yang, one of the world’s best decathletes, set a World Indoor Record of 16-3 ¼ (4.96) in the Pole Vault in Portland, Oregon. He would set a World Record in the Decathlon at the Mt.SAC Relays in April
1967—After his fall on the first lap led to a recall, Villanova’s Dave Patrick showed no ill-effects as he went on to win the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in front of a sell-out crowd of 15,596 fans at Madison Square Garden. Finishing 5th in 4:13.5 was Marty Liquori, a senior at nearby Essex Catholic H.S. (Newark,NJ), who was the first prep invited to compete in the prestigious race. Liquori, who followed Patrick to Villanova, went on to become a 3-time winner of the Wanamaker Mile (1969-1971).
1968–Using a technique that didn’t yet bear his name, Dick Fosbury became the first man to clear 7-feet in the High Jump going over backwards!
While it was later revealed that the technique had been used before, it was Fosbury, who would win Olympic gold in Mexico City later in the year, who drew world-wide attention to this new style of jumping.
In other events at the Athens Inv. in Oakland (CA), two future Hall-of-Fame long-jumpers hooked up, with Bob Beamon beating veteran Ralph Boston (26-10 [8.18] to 26-2 ¼ [7.98]).
Boston, who had already won Olympic gold in 1960 and silver in 1964, would complete his collection with a bronze medal in Mexico City later in the year. Beamon, of course, would win gold with his “Beamonesque” leap of 29-2 ½ (8.90).
(From T&F News)
Fosbury and the Flop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZsH46Ek2ao
1973–Vaulting in NY’s Madison Square Garden at the Millrose Games, which had already been the setting for the first 15’ (Dutch Warmerdam-15-3/8/1942) and 16’ (John Uelses-16-1/4 [1962]) indoor vaults in history, Steve Smith became the first man to jump 18’ undercover by clearing 18-1/4 (5.49m).
Said Smith, “As I started down the runway the crowd began responding, and as they grew louder and louder my adrenalin got going more and more. I’ve never been more nervous”.
WR Progression:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_pole_vault_indoor_world_record_progression
Sports Illustrated Vault: https://vault.si.com/vault/1973/02/12/hes-raising-the-roof
1974–Steve Prefontaine ran 8:22.2 in Portland to break his own year-old American Record of 8:24.6.
1975—18-year old Joni Huntley, a freshman at Oregon State, raised her American Outdoor Record in the High Jump
to 6-2 ¾ (1.90) in Christchurch, New Zealand. She had set her previous mark of 6-3/4 (1.85) the year
before as a high school senior.
Just a few hours earlier (actually on Jan.25), at the Oregon Invitation in Portland, four men from Oregon
State cleared 7-feet behind Dwight Stones’ winning height of 7-3 ¾ (2.23): Tom Woods (2nd/7-2), Mark
Wilson (3rd/7-1), Mike Fleer (4th/7-1), and Scott Wilbrecht (6th/7-0)
Huntley’s American Records
6-0 1.83 Eugene, OR May 18, 1974(Also U.S. High School Record)
6-0 1.83 Modesto, CA May 24, 1974
6-0 ¾ 1.85 Eugene, OR June 8, 1974
6-2 ¾ 1.90 Christchurch, New Zealand January 26, 1975
1980–Mary Decker-Slaney set an outdoor World Record in the Mile–4:21.68–in Auckland, New Zealand.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile_run_world_record_progression
1990—Hurdler Tony Dees set the American Record of 10.28 in the rarely contested (indoors) 100-meters in Johnson CIty, Tennessee. Finishing a close 2nd was Dennis Mitchell (10.29), and 5th was John Myles-Mills of George Mason, who established the still-standing Collegiate Record of 10.50.
1991–Villanova’s Sonia O’Sullivan ran 15:17.28 for 5000-meters to set World and Collegiate Records at the Terrier Classic at Boston University. The previous WR of 15:22.64 was set by Lynn Jennings the previous year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_O’Sullivan
2008–Running in front of a large and enthusiastic contingent of her fellow Ethiopians at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games (Reggie Lewis Center), Meseret Defar set a World Record of 9:10.50 for the rarely-contested 2-miles. Not far behind was New Zealand’s Kim Smith, who ran 9:13.94, the 2nd fastest time in history at the time. Defar’s teammate, Tirunesh Dibaba, won the women’s 3000 in 8:33.37, and Australia’s Craig Mottram set a U.S. All-Comers Record of 7:34.50 in the Men’s 3000.
Results: http://www.nbindoorgrandprix.com/meet-info/history/history-2008/
IAAF Coverage
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/defar-runs-91050-two-miles-world-best-in-bost
2013—It was the Day of the Mile in the Northeast for two of coach Alberto Salazar’s runners.
Competing against an elite field at the New Balance Games at NY’s Armory, Bronxville(NY) junior Mary Cain ran 4:32.78 in the Mile to smash the 41-year old High School Indoor Record of 4:38.5, which was set by Debbie Heald in 1972. Cain took down another ancient record, clocking 4:16.11 for 1500-meters to break Lynn Jennings’ 35-year old mark of 4:18.9.
Cain, who finished 3rd in the race behind Sarah Bowman (4:31.61) and Canadian Nicole Sifuentes (4:31.65), would take the records to another level three weeks later at the Armory when she ran 4:11.72/4:28.25 while finishing 2nd at the Millrose Games. Bowman brought Cain along on her victory lap!
Cain’s race hadn’t yet finished when the Men’s Mile at the Terrier Classic at Boston University got underway.
Galen Rupp, who had won the silver medal in the 10,000 meters less than six months earlier at the London Olympics, was dropping down in distance with an eye on Bernard Lagat’s American Record of 3:49.89
Getting pacing help from Boston University’s Stuart Ross (1:54.6) and then Dorian Ulrey (2:52.5), Rupp came close, but had to settle for moving into the #2 position on the All-Time U.S. list (at the time, now #9) with his time of 3:50.92 (#5 performer A-T World at the time).
While Rupp had the attention of everyone inside BU’s facility, there was some fine finishes behind him-2.David McCarthy (3:57.22), 3.Riley Masters (3:57.74), 4.Eric Jenkins (3:58.11), Rich Peters (3:59.57), Julian Matthews (4:00.33).
Cain’s Mile: https://www.flotrack.org/video/5433979-w-mile-h01-national-hs-indoor-record-43278-2013-nb-games
Cain Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVfAB-tTu0Q
Rupp’s Mile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlLJJ0UTBBw
www.letsrun.com/news/2013/01/galen-rupp-runs-350-92-for-the-mile-to-become-the-fifth-fastest-in-the-mile-ever/
2013—Duane Solomon set an American Record of 1:15.70 for 600-meters in Glasgow, Scotland
2019—A Brooks Beasts team made their cross-country trip from Seattle to New York worthwhile by setting a World Indoor Record of 16:03.68 in the 4-mile relay at the Dr.Sander/Columbia Challenge at NY’s Armory. Finishing 2nd in 16:16.05 was the previous record holder, HOKA New Jersey/New York T.C.
(Approximate Splits)
Brooks: David Ribich/4:04, Henry Wynne/4:03, Brannon Kidder/3:58, Izaic Yorks/3:58.
Hoka/NJ*NY: Jesse Garn/4:04, Travis Mahoney/4:03, Rob Napolitano/3:58, Ryan Manahan/4:11.
LetsRun’s Excellent Recap of the meet.
Finishing 3rd in the Women’s 3000-meters behind veterans Amanda Eccleston (8:56.68) and Heather Kampf (8:56.87), junior Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland,NY) ran 9:01.81 to break Mary Cain’s 6-year old U.S. High School Record of 9:04.51.
2019—Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh cleared 6-6 ¼ (1.99) in Hustopeče (CZE) to equal Vashti Cunningham’s World Junior Indoor Record in the High Jump. She jumped 6-7 (2.01) on January 18, 2020, to take sole possession of the Record. She would set an overall World Record of 6-10 ¾ (2.10) in 2024.
Significant Birthdays
Born On This Day*
Jeanette Bolden-Pickens 65 (1960) 1984 Olympic gold medalist-4×100; 4th 1984 Olympics—100m
(Alice Brown, Jeanette Bolden, Chandra Cheeseborough, Evelyn Ashford)
All-American at UCLA: 100 (1981 AIAW-3rd, 1982 NCAA-2nd); 4×100 (1982 NCAA-3rd[Missy Jerold, Florence Griffith,
Jackie Joyner, Jeanette Bolden)
PB:11.08(1986)
Former coach at UCLA and Central Florida
Member of the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame
Currently owns the 27th Street Bakery in Los Angeles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanette_Bolden
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77762
http://www.ustfccca.org/awards/jeanette-bolden-ustfccca-class-of-2010
Keeping a business alive during a pandemic:
https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2021/feb/22/former-olympian-bolden-pickens-27th-street-bakery/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SorcWXztbU8
https://www.27thstreetbakery.com
Wanda Panfil—Poland 66 (1959) 1991 World Champion—Marathon; PB-2:24:18
Winner—1990 NY City and 1991 Boston Mrathons.
2-time Olympian-1988,1992 (22nd both times)
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Panfil
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/74640
1991 WC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBZTveiv34g
1991 Boston
1990 NYC:
www.nytimes.com/1990/11/05/sports/new-york-city-marathon-panfil-starts-fast-holds-off-challenge.html
Nat Page 68 (1957) 1979 NCAA Champion—High Jump (Missouri); 1980 Olympian (boycott year)
World-ranked in the High Jump in 1980 (8th) and 1981 (7th); also world-ranked in the 400-hurdes in
1989 (7th), 1990 (7th), and 1991 (8th); PBs: 7-6i (2.29), 13.71 (1984), 48.75 (1989)
Currently an assistant coach at Georgia Tech; Coached Chaunté Lowe, the American Indoor and
Outdoor Record holder In the Women’s High Jump.
https://ramblinwreck.com/coach/nat-page-2/
Jarmila Kratochvílová—Czech Republic 74 (1951) 1983 World Champion—400&800 (4×400-silver); 1987-800 (5th)
1980 Olympic silver medalist-400m
World Record holder-800m (1:53.28—1983); Former record holder—400m (47.99—1983, still #2)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarmila_Kratochv%C3%ADlová
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/czechoslovakia/jarmila-kratochvilova-14351036
http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/friday-marks-30th-anniversary-of-kratochvilovas-800m-world-record
800 WR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPSM_j3Er1o
400 WR(’83 WC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YDlbHHICsU
Deceased
Percy Beard 82 (1908-March 27, 1990) 1932 Olympic silver medalist—110h; Set two World Records in the
110-hurdles in 1934 (14.3, 14.2); 3-time U.S. Champion (1931,1934,1935); Long-time coach at the
University of Florida (1936-1964); Track at Florida bears his name.
Inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1981
Member of the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Beard
https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/percy-beard
www.ustfccca.org/ustfccca-hall-of-fame/ustfccca-hall-of-fame-special-inductees/percy-beard-ustfccca-special-inductee
Lou Zamperini 97 (1917-July 2, 2014) 2-time NCAA Champion-mile (USC/1938,1939, 3rd-1940)
1936 U.S. Olympian-5000m (8th)
Made the U.S. team shortly after graduating from Torrance H.S.(CA)
Spent two years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. It was thought that he had died along with the rest
of the crew when their plane crashed in 1943. His obituary appeared in many U.S. newspapers!
He and two others had spent 47 days adrift in a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean.
Subject of “Unbroken”, the book (written by Laura Hillenbrand) and the movie (produced by Angelina Jolie)
Formed a friendship with Hillenbrand, who has battled “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” for most of her life. Zamperini sent one of
his Purple Hearts to her, saying, “She’s suffered far longer than I did”.
PBs: 3:52.6 (1939), 4:08.3 (1938), 9:12.8/2m (1939), 14:46.8( 1936)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Zamperini
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79233
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/04/arts/louis-zamperini-olympian-war-survivor-unbroken-dies.html
Terrific CBS Sunday Morning feature from 2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyhFPqRZE9c
https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-louis-zamperini
https://www.mercurynews.com/2015/01/14/thoughts-on-the-run-unbroken-star-zamperini-was-natural-athlete/
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-113hres774ih/html/BILLS-113hres774ih.htm
Missing?: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1943/06/05/Lou-Zamperini-still-missing/9541527384672/
Unbroken(the book):
