This Day in Track & Field/X-Country, April 2, Lillian Copeland sets AR in shot put (1935), Wes Santee Runs 4:00.5 for mile (1955), Russ Francis sets AR in high school javelin (1971), by Walt Murphy

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service  (wmurphy25@aol.com)

This Day in Track & Field/X-Country–April 2

1935–Lillian Copeland, the 1932 Olympic Champion in the Women’s Discus, threw the Shot 40-5 (12.32) at the 2nd Jewish Olympics/Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv, Palestine, to break her own American Record (38-5  ½ [11.72[) by almost two feet. She also won gold medals in the Discus and Javelin.

Financial problems and a late arrival at the 18th Streel Pier in NY City almost kept Copeland and the rest of the U.S. delegation from making it onto the ship that would take them to Tel Aviv!

Athletes from many countries, including all 350 members of the Bulgarian team, remained in Palestine after the Games were over.

Copeland also held American Records in the Discus and Javelin and won 9 U.S. titles in three events–5  in the Shot Put, two in the Discus, and two in the Javelin She was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1994.

Maccabiah Games: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1935_Maccabiah_Games

http://jwa.org/thisweek/aug/02/1932/lillian-copeland

HOF Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/lillian-copeland

1955–Wes Santee, “The Kansas Cowboy”, ran 4:00.5 in Austin,Texas, to break the American Record for the 4th and final time, but fell just short of becoming the first American to run a sub 4-minute mile. Santee’s pursuit of the 4-minute mile, along with that of Roger Bannister and John Landy, is chronicled in the book, “The Perfect Mile”

Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/wes-santee

1960–Using a borrowed implement (his was being repaired), future Hall-of-Famer Bill Nieder, like Santee, a former Kansas Jayhawk, regained the Shot Put World Record from Dallas Long in a big way at the Texas Relays with his throw of 65-7 (19.99), besting Long’s previous mark by more than a foot.

Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/bill-nieder

WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression

Kansas Hall of Fame:  https://www.kshof.org/team/bill-nieder

1960—Ray Norton ran 9.3 in San Jose to equal the World Record for 100-Yards that he already shared with 7 others, including Mel Patton, Dave Sime, and Bobby Morrow

1960—Northeast Louisiana’s Don Styron ran 21.9 in Baton Rouge to break the World Record in the 220y-Hurdles. Elias Gilbert set the previous mark of 22.1 in 1958.

Four months earlier, Styron’s training had been interrupted when he accidentally shot himself in the right leg with a pistol. The bullet was removed from his right thigh and he was back running the next day!

(From the IAAF Progression of World Records)

1968—South Africa’s Paul Nash ran 10.0 for 100-Meters in Krugersdorp to equal the World Record that was first set by Germany’s Armin Hary in 1960. Others sharing the record included Harry Jerome, Bob Hayes, and Jim Hines.

1971–Russ Francis, a senior at Pleasant Hill H.S. who had never even seen a javelin when he moved from Hawaii to Oregon, threw 184-2 (56.13) in his first competition.  That was a modest opener for Francis, who went on to set three National H.S. Records with the “old” implement in 1971: 253-1 (77.14/5-7), 254-11 (77.70/5-27), and 259-9 (79.17/6-12). The latter mark stood for 17 years until the late Art Skipper threw 259-10 (79.20, Sandy,OR) in 1988. He also finished 4th at the U.S. Championships in 1971.

Francis spent more than ten years in the NFL as a tight end with New England and San Francisco and was a member of the 49ers’ 1985 Super Bowl Championship team. Among his teammates were fellow track and field stars Michael Carter and Renaldo Nehemiah. Francis, following in the footsteps of his father (Ed), also spent some time as a professional wrestler and ran for Congress in Hawaii in 2000. He died in a plane crash in 2023 at the age of 70.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FranRu00.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Francis

Russ Francis died in a plane crash at Lake Placid, but his life was full and more than football

Wrestling Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW9_b9U4084

1994–After anchoring Arkansas’  4×100 to a 3rd-place finish (39.80) at the UTEP Inv., senior Erick Walder made his way over to the Long Jump pit, where he started out with a pair of modest 25-footers. He gave a hint of things to come with his 5th-round jump of 27-4  ¾ (8.35), then, taking full advantage of the 3,700’ altitude and a maximum 2.0 mps trailing wind, Walder reached out to 28-8 1/4 (8.74) to break Carl Lewis’s 13-year old Collegiate Record of 28-3 ½ (8.62). “I’ve been chasing that mark since my sophomore year”, said the happy Walder.

Walder, whose CR still stands, won an amazing 10 NCAA titles in the Long Jump and Triple Jump during his brilliant career at Arkansas.

Arkansas Hall of Fame induction and speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq8IID5Cl5o

1998—Brigham Young senior Amy Palmer threw the Hammer 220-1 (67.08) at the Texas Relays to smash Dawn Ellerbe’s year-old American and Collegiate Record of 210-8 (64.22). South Carolina’s Ellerbe was 2nd in the competition with a throw of 202-11 (61.86),

Palmer got her record throw in the first round, fouled on her next 4 throws, then finished off with a modest toss of 200-4 (61.06).

2006(4-1/2)–Kenenisa Bekele won his 5th straight double (short-4/1, long 4/2)  at the World X-Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba won the Women’s “long” race for the 2nd year in a row (she dropped out of the “short” race).

Adam Goucher had the best showing by an American, finishing an impressive 6th in the Senior Men’s Short race (4/1).

This was the last year for the 2-day format ( “short” race was eliminated).

Other Notable/U.S. Finishers

Senior Men-Long(12k/4-2):1.Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 35:40, 2.Sileshi SIhine (ETH) 35:43…4.Zersenay Tadesse (ERI) 35:47, 43.Ryan Hall (USA), 51.Pat Gildea (USA), 55.Brandon Leslie (USA), 57.Max King (USA), 74.Jason Hartmann (USA), DNF-Matt Gabrielson (USA); Team:1.Kenya 24, 2.Eritrea 28, 3.Ethiopia 42;

Senior Men-Short(4k/4-1):1.Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 10:54, 2.Isaac Songok (KEN) 10:55, 3.Adil Kaouch (MAR) 10:57, 4.Benjamin Limo (KEN) 11:00, 5.Ali Abdosh (ETH) 11:01, 6.Adam Goucher (USA) 11:02, 7.Augustin Choge (KEN), 8.Edwin Soi (KEN), 9.Saif Saeed Shaheen (QAT), 11.Craig Mottram (AUS), 12.Sileshi Sihine (ETH), 13.Kevin Sullivan (CAN), 18.Brimin Kipruto (KEN), 19.Ryan Hall (USA), 27.Jorge Torres (USA), 28.Daniel Lincoln (USA), 30.Gebre Gebremariam (ETH), 33.Ian Dobson (USA), 40.Mo Farah (GBR), 57.Luke Watson (USA); Team:1.Kenya 24, 2.Ethiopia 48;

Senior Women-Long(8k/4-1):1.Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 25:21, 2.Lornah Kiplagat (NED) 25:26, 3.Meselech Melkamu (ETH), 4.Benita Johnson-Willis (AUS/2004 Champion), 11.Blake Russell (USA), 13.Edna Kiplagat (KEN), 21.Katie McGregor (USA), 26.Sara Slattery (USA), 33.Colleen de Reuck (USA), 49.Renee Metivier-Baillie (USA), 59.Sharon Dickie-Thompson (USA); Team:1.Ethiopia 16, 2.Kenya 39

Senior Women-Short(4k/4-2):1.Gelete Burka (ETH) 12:51, 2.Prisca Ngetich (KEN) 12:53, 3.Meselech Melkamu (ETH), 4.Benita Johnson-Willis (AUS), 5.Lornah Kiplagat (NED), 8.Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN), 18.Blake Russell (USA), 21.Kara Goucher (USA), 22.Carmen Douma-Hassar (CAN), 24.Courtney Babcock (CAN), 26.Sara Hall (USA), 34.Carrie Tollefson (USA), 37.Maryam Jamal (BRN), 38.Sarah Schwald (USA), 66.Amy Mortimer (USA); DNF-Turunesh Dibaba (ETH); Team:1.Ethiopia 25, 2.Kenya 26

Junior Men(8k/4-2):1. Mang’ata Ndiwa (KEN) 23:53, 2.Leonard Komon (KEN) 23:54, 3.Tariku Bekele (ETH/Kenenisa’s brother) 23:56, 5.Ibrahim Jellan (ETH), 34.Kiel Uhl (USA), 39.Andrew Bumbalough (USA), 50.Jordan McDougal (USA), 58.Michael Eaton (USA); Team:1.Kenya 16, 2.Ethiopia 24

Junior Women(6k/4-1):1.Pauline Korikwiang (KEN) 19:27, 2.Veronica Wanjiru (KEN) 19:27, 31.McKayla Plank (USA), 34.Erin Bedell (USA), 38.Kauren Tarver (USA), 39.Nicole Blood (USA), 46.Sheila Reid (CAN), 52.Mel Lawrence (USA), 67.Maddie McKeever (USA); Team: 1.Kenya 10, 2.Ethiopia 29

World Athletics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvbkIott-hA

History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships

2006—Deena Kastor was disappointed with her 2nd-place finish to Kenya’s Edith Masai in the Berlin ½-marathon, but did come away with an American Record of 67:34 (since broken).

Said Kastor, “I’m delighted but there’s a kind of bittersweet pleasure. Of course, I came here to win. Unfortunately I couldn’t bring that off, but I did set a personal best and a US record”.

https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/kosgei-5907-masai-defeats-kastor-berlin-hal

2021—The brand new Hayward Field in Eugene opened for business with the staging of the Hayward Premiere (April 2,3), a college meet hosted by the University of Oregon.

Oregon’s Cole Hocker won the 1500-Meters (3:38.99) on Friday, then came back the next day to win the 800 (1:46.60).

Results: https://www.tfrrs.org/results/67754/Hayward_Premiere/

https://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/2021/04/track-and-field-returns-to-hayward-field-with-hayward-premiere-meet.html

Photos: https://www.registerguard.com/picture-gallery/sports/2021/04/03/hayward-premiere/7073215002/

Born On This Day*

Keshorn Walcott—Trinidad & Tobago  32 (1993) 19 at the time, he became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in the

Javelin in 2012…had won the World Junior title a month earlier.

2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 7th in 2024

7th at the 2017 World Championships

2015 Pan-American Games Champion;

PB: 295-9 (90.16/2016);  2024 SB:  282-8 (62.16)  6’-0”, 198

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keshorn_Walcott

https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/trinidad-and-tobago/keshorn-walcott-249321

Pre-2016 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qwQIUbCpqM

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/125971

Linford Christie—Great Britain  65 (1960)  Gold medalist in the 100 at the 1992 Olympics and 1993 World Championships.

Disqualified for a false start in the final of the 100 at the 1996 Olympics. Race had already been delayed

because of previous false starts, and was further delayed when Christie at first refused to leave the track.

(see links). PBs: 6.47i (1995), 9.87 (1993)

Silver medalist in the 100 and 4×100 at the 1988 Olympics

2-time World Championships bronze medalist—100 (1987), 4×100 (1991/1993-silver)

Silver medalist in the 60 and 200 at the 1991 World Indoor Championships

3-time European Champion—100m(1986,1990,1994)

Born in Jamaica, moved to England with his family when he was 7

1992 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8d7tz2YK3A

https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/linford-christie-496

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68957

False Start: https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/29/sports/chaotic-100-meters-ends-with-record.html

Drugs Controversy:

https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1432/linford-christie-i-have-no-role-in-2012-because-qim-a-drug-cheatq

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3396554/Stop-Linford-Christie-punish-failed-tests-says-ex-sprinter-John-Regis.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/bbc-drops-linford-christie-after-drugs-ban-is-confirmed-696211.html

Gelindo Bordin—Italy  66 (1959)   1988 Olympic Champion—Marathon (1992-DNF)

Bronze medalist at the 1987 World Championships (1991-8th)

2-time European Champion (1986,1990); PB: 2:08:19 (1990)

Winner of the 1990 Boston Marathon (Only Olympic gold medalist to win at Boston); 3rd-1990 NYC Marathon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelindo_Bordin

Boston

     Video(Italian) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GLI20aCZ-I

     (2010) https://www.runnersworld.com/races/1990-champ-gelindo-bordin-and-the-olympic-jinx

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/71882

Career Stats: https://more.arrs.run/runner/4229

Deceased

Calvin Davis 51 (1972-May 1, 2023) 1996 Olympic bronze medalist-400m Hurdles

1995 World Indoor Champion—4×400 (6th-400m)

1993 NCAA Champion-400m (Arkansas); 1994 NCAA Indoor Champion-400m

1994 NCAA Indoor Champion—Distance Medley (400 leg)

1992 U.S. Junior College Champion-400m (Wallace State)

Made a remarkable transition from the “flat” 400 to the hurdles version, competing over the barriers for the first time

on June 1st, 1996, only two weeks before finishing 3rd at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Ranked #4 in the World in 1996 by T&F News, #10 in 1999.

PBs: 45.04 (1993), 47.91 (1996)

His Olympic bronze medal was stolen from his mother’s home in 2005 (don’t know if it was ever returned or replaced)

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78296

https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/olympic-medalist-razorback-multiple-ncaa-champion-calvin-davis-passes/

https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/calvin-davis-14235977

Stolen Medal: https://www.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=2240406

https://mstca.org/hall-of-fame/athletes/91

1996 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ367bF-lm8