by Larry Eder
Walt Murphy is one of the finest track geeks that I know. Walt does #ThisDayinTrack&FieldHistory, an excellent daily service that provides true geek stories about our sport. You can check out the service for FREE with a free one-month trial subscription! (email: WaltMurphy44@gmail.com ) for the entire daily service. We will post a few historic moments each day, beginning February 1, 2024.
by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission
This Day in Track & Field-December 26
2002—A car driven by Michelle Freeman, the 1997 World Indoor Champion in the 60-meter hurdles, overtuned on a road
in Florida, resulting in the death of Freeman’s mother and Ilrey Oliver-Sparks, a former University of Tennessee
runner who was an academic counselor for the Longhorns. Seriously injured was Texas women’s coach Bev
Kearney, who was confined to a wheelchair for a few years after the accident (see link). She reached a
settlement with the University of Texas in June, 2018, over an unrelated discrimination lawsuit.
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/michelle-freeman-devastation-and-tragedy-bu
Recovery(Kearney): https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/you-learn-that-the-impossible-is-possible-say
Significant Birthdays
Born On This Day
Yohan Blake-Jamaica 35 (1989) 2011 World Champion—100m (After training partner Usain Bolt false-started), 4×100
2-time Olympic gold medalist–4×100 (2012, 2016)
2-time Olympic silver medalist—100,200 (2012)
4th in the 200 at the 2016 Olympics and 2017 World Championships
5th in the 100 at the 2019 World Championships
Anchored the Jamaican 4×200 team that set a World Record of 1:18.63 in 2014
(Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown, Blake)
Held back by injuries from 2013-2015
Ran 10.11 for 100-meters in 2007 at the age of 17
Played a key role in one of the greatest races in Penn Relays history in 2007. After anchoring St.Jago to a win in
the H.S. Boys 4×100, he fell just short of catching Long Beach Poly(CA)’s Bryshon Nellum on the thrilling
anchor leg of the 4×400 (45.4 split for both).
PBs: 6.45i (2023), 9.69 (2012/=#2 All-Time), 19.26 (2011/#2 All-Time), 46.32 (2013); 2024 SB:10.16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yohan_Blake
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/jamaica/yohan-blake-14201842
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/120717
2007 Penn 4×400(MUST WATCH): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzwPLQt6urE
All-Time Lists: http://www.alltime-athletics.com/men.htm
Cheri (Goddard) Kenah 54 (1970) All-American at Villanova (2nd in the NCAA 3000(i) in 1999, 4th in 2000)
3-time winner of the Olympic Development Mile at the Penn Relays (1998-2000)
Member of two winning relays at Penn:
1990-4×1500 17:18.10 (CR-Nnenna Lynch 4:25.8, Sonia O’Sullivan 4:13.5, Goddard 4:21.6, Kathy Franey 4:17.2); 1991-DMR
PBs: 4:09.16 (2002), 4:30.75 (1997), 8:42.68 (1998), 15:10.50 (2000), 32:24.06 (2000)
Married to Rich Kenah, the bronze medalist in the 800 at the 1997 World Indoor and Outdoor Championships and
currently the Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club.
Ted Castaneda 73 (1951) Coached at Colorado College from 1981 until he retired on December 15, 2020
All-American at Colorado—2nd to Steve Prefontaine in the 3-mile at the 1973 NCAA Championships in Baton
Rouge; 2nd at 6-miles at the 1974 NCAA Championships (2nd Indoors at 2-miles);
5th in the 5000, 6th in the 10,000, at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials;
PBs: 3:58.3 (1974), 13:10.64/3-miles (#2 All-Time College at the time), 28:30.60 (1973), 2:15:10 (1979);
https://cctigers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=908&path=mtf
Colorado Running Hall of Fame: https://corunninghalloffame.com/2013/01/31/ted-castaneda/
Retirement: https://www.scacsports.com/sports/mxc/2020-21/releases/Castaneda_Retirement
Pat Matzdorf 75 (1949) 1970 NCAA Champion—High Jump (1971-5th/Wisconsin)
Straddler broke Valeriy Brumel’s World Record (7-5 ¾ [2.28]) in the High Jump with his clearance of 7-6 ¼
[2.2924]/1971) in Berkeley at a meet involving the U.S., the Soviet Union, and the “World All-Stars”. Best prior
to the meet was only 7’-3” (2.21). (Ukraine’s Vladimir Yashchenko was the last straddler to hold the WR in the
event—jumped 7-7 3/4 [2.33] in 1977, 7-8 [2.34] in 1978)
Hampered by injuries after his WR performance
Appeared as a mystery guest on the old TV game show, What’s My Line?, where celebrities had to guess who you
were or what you did (it took them awhile to figure out what Matzdorf did!)
Sports Illustrated: https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/01/31/getting-up-in-the-world
T&F News Cover (July 1): https://trackandfieldnews.com/tfn-covers-1971/
https://uwbadgers.com/honors/university-of-wisconsin-athletic-hall-of-fame/pat-matzdorf/144
50th Anniversary:
https://trackandfieldnews.com/pat-matzdorfs-surprise-world-record-turns-50/
https://uwbadgers.com/news/2021/7/2/mens-track-field-50-years-ago-a-world-record-for-matzdorf.aspx
Deceased
George Frenn 64 (1941-June 26, 2006) 2-time U.S. Champion-Hammer (1970,1971)
6-time U.S. Indoor Champion-35lb Weight Throw (197-1973, 1975, 1977)
1972 U.S. Olympian (Qual.)
PBs: 73-3 ½ (22.34/1969/ World Record at the time), 232-7 (70.89/1970)
https://vault.si.com/vault/1970/03/09/he-knows-how-to-throw-his-weight-around
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frenn
SI Cover:
Ralph Hill 85 (1908-Oct.17, 1994) 1932 Olympic silver medalist—5000m
Former American Record holder in the Mile—4:12.4(1930)
All-American in the Mile at Oregon—NCAA (1929-4th, 1930-6th, 1931-2nd)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78553
https://onceuponatimeinthevest.blogspot.com/2020/11/v-10-n-74-potpourri-of-stories-and.html
http://www.racingpast.ca/bob-phillips.php?id=31
Barbara Jacket 87 (1934-January 6, 2022) Former coach at Prairie View A&M (1965-1991)
Head Women’s Coach of the U.S. team at the 1992 Olympics.
Inducted into the USTFCCCA Coaches Halls of Fame in 2001
https://www.usatf.org/news/2022/women-s-track-field-pioneer-barbara-jacket-dies
https://www.ustfccca.org/awards/barbara-jacket-ustfccca-class-of-2001
Also a member of the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Jacket
