by Larry Eder
by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service
This Day in Track & Field/X-Country–March 24
1921 (New)—The Women’s Olympiad Olympiades Féminines and Jeux Olympiques Féminins was the first international women’s sports event, a multi-sport event organized by Alice Milliat and held on 24–31 March in Monte Carlo.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_Women%27s_Olympiad
1934–LSU’s Jack Torrance set an American Record of 53-6 (16.30m+) in the Shot Put, but the mark was never ratified as a World Record (unknown reasons). He would set 3 official World Records later in the season, with a best of 57-1 (17.40).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Torrance_(athlete)
1973– Steve Prefontaine ran 27:09.4 at an all-comers meet in Bakersfield, California, to set an American Record for 6 miles. Pre got pacing help from fellow Oregon Duck Paul Geis, who won the concurrently-run 3-miles in 13:24.2.
1973–American Wendy Koenig (Knudson) became the first woman to break 60 seconds for the 400-meter hurdles, running 59.08 in Phoenix. She competed in the 800 meters at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.
http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77891
http://www.eptrail.com/ci_21156440/an-olympic-moment
http://www.eptrail.com/ci_31737312/special-thank-you-estes-park-wendy-koenig
1985–Top-10 finishes from Cathy Branta (2nd-15:24) and Betty Springs (9th) sparked the U.S. to its 3rd straight Women’s team title at the World X-Country Championships in Lisbon, Portugal. Others on the team (4 scored): Shelly Steely (15th), Kathy Hayes (16th), Mary Knisely (28th), and Nan Doak (46th).
Holding up their end was a strong U.S. team of Bruce Bickford (10th), Pat Porter (12th), Ed Eyestone (16th), Craig Virgin (19th), Mark Curp (40th), and Jeff Drenth (56th) that won the bronze medals in the Men’s race. The individual race featured no less than five former champions, with hometown favorite Carlos Lopes (33:33), the gold medalist in the 1984 Olympic Marathon, winning his 2nd straight title. Ethiopia’s Bekele Debele (1983/4th-33:45) finished 4th, followed closely by Ireland’s John Treacy (33:48), the 1978 and 1979 winner, and Virgin (34:12), another 2-time winner (1980,1981), was 19th. Ethiopia’s Mohammed Kedir, the 1982 champion, did not finish the race.
Barefoot Kipkemboi Kimeli (22:18) won the Men’s Junior race to give Kenya its first World Champion. The team battle marked the first Ethiopia (16)-Kenya (26) duel, which is now commonplace at these Championships. At 18 years and 302 days, Zola Budd (15:01) became the youngest ever to win the Women’s Senior race.
Other notable/U.S. finishers
Senior Men(12.19km): 2. Paul Kipkoech (KEN) 33:37, 3.Wodajo Bulti (ETH) 33:38, 11.Fernando Mamede (ETH), 20.Rob de Castella (AUS), 27.Gelindo Bordin (ITA), 36.Francisco Panetta (ITA), 37.Steve Jones (Wales), 42.John Robson (SCO), 89.Abel Antón (ESP), 102.Steve Moneghetti (AUS), 175.Neil Cusack (IRL); Team(6 score):1.Ethiopia 129, 2.Kenya 141, 3.USA 153;
Senior Women(4.99km):3.Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR), 4. Fiţa Lovin (ROU), 5.Cornelia Burki (SWI), 7.Olga Bondarenko (URS), 13.Rosa Mota (POR), 17.Annette Sergent (FRA), 27.Angela Chalmers (CAN), 30.Aurorra Cunha (POR), 42.Yvonne Murray (SCO), 56.Paula Fudge (ENG); Team: USA
Junior Men(8.19km):10.Brahim Boutayeb (MAR), 12.Jeff Cannada (USA), 15.Chuck Trujillo (USA), 23.Matt Giusto (USA), 45.Simon Gutierrez (USA), 48.Hank Lee (USA), 74.Joe Falcon (USA); Team:1.Ethiopia 16, 2.Kenya 26;
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePkEbMY2Ta0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships
1990—With just a handful of people watching, Sweden’s Patrik Bodén, a junior at Texas, threw the Javelin 292-4 (89.10) in chilly conditions at a 4-way meet on his home turf in Austin, Texas, to set an unexpected World Record. The previous mark of 287-7 (87.66) was set by the great Jan Železný in 1987. Bodén would win the 2nd of his 3 consecutive NCAA titles in June.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5mguThFPJw
Frank Lits ky’s NY Times Article:
https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/31/sports/surprising-javelin-champ-savors-unexpected-record.html
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_javelin_throw_world_record_progression
Metric Conversion: http://www.usatf.org/statistics/calculators/markConversions/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrik_Bodén
1991–Lynn Jennings (20:24) came from behind in the last 400 meters to win her 2nd straight Women’s World X-Country title in Antwerp, Belgium, over Ethiopia’s Derartu Tulu (20:27) and Great Britain’s Liz McColgan (20:28), who had given birth to a daughter only 4 months before this race.
Morocco’s Khalid Skah (33:53) was another repeat winner, taking a close Men’s race over a Kenyan quartet of Moses Tanui (33:54), Simon Karori(33:54), Richard Chelimo(33:57), and Ondoro Osoro(33:57);
13-year-old Lydia Cheromei won the Junior Women’s race to lead Kenya to the team title. American Melody Fairchild won the bronze medal.
Other notable/U.S. finishers
Senior Men(11.764km): 12. William Mutwol (KEN), 15.Steve Moneghetti (AUS), 16. Martín Fiz (ESP), 28.Dan Nelson (USA), 33.Domingos Castro (POR), 49.John Nuttall (GBR), 68.Pat Porter (USA), 71. Abel Antón (ESP), 78.Dan Reese (USA), 83.Bob Kempainen (USA), 85.Mark Coogan (USA), 89.Graeme Fell (CAN), 115.Bill Taylor (USA), 121.Aaron Ramirez (USA), 129.Tom Wood (USA), 147.Godfrey Siamusiye (ZAM); DNF-John Ngugi (KEN); Team: Kenya
Senior Women(6.425km):6.Albertina Dias (POR), 7.Susan Sirma (KEN), 8.Yelena Romanova (URS), 12.Fatuma Roba (ETH), 15.Pauline Konga (KEN), 19.Annette Peters (USA), 28.Elaine Van Blunk (USA), 29.Gwynn Hardesty-Coogan (USA), 34.Berhane Adere (ETH), 40. Anuța Cătună (ROU), 43.Trina Painter (USA), 51.Shelly Steely (USA), 64.Aurora Cunha (POR); Team:1.Kenya 36, 2.Ethiopia 36
Junior Men(8.415km):1.Andrew Sambu (TAN), 3.Fita Bayissa (ETH), 7.Ismael Kirui (KEN), 8.Haile Gebrselassie (ETH), 14.Salah Hissou (MAR), 35.Mark Carroll (IRL), 40.Michael Cox (USA), 53.Teddy Mitchell (USA), 64.Brian Clas (USA), 66.Kevin Sullivan (CAN), 84.Stuart Burnham (USA), 89.Kyle Armentrout (USA), 119.Marko Koers (NED), 120.Brant Armentrout (USA); Team: 1.Kenya 19, 2.Ethiopia 26
Junior Women(4.435km):Team: 5. Gete Wami (ETH), 15.Paula Radcliffe (GBR), 22.Michelle Lafleuer (USA), 23.Pam Hunt (USA), 35.Gabriela Szabo (ROU), 40.Deena Drossin-Kastor (USA), 47.Kathy Butler (CAN), 68.Celeste Susnis (USA), 84.Yvette Turner (JAM), 102.Megan Thompson (USA)1.Kenya 18, 2.Ethiopia 40;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3KD9cc5vQ8
2002(23/24)–After giving up the role as host in 2001 because of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease among British livestock, Dublin, Ireland, welcomed this edition of the World X-Country Championships. In the Women’s long-course race, the U.S. broke a 7-year Kenya/Ethiopia stranglehold on the first two places by taking the silver medals (behind Ethiopia), thanks to a 2-3 finish (behind winner Paula Radcliffe/26:55) by Deena Drossin-Kastor (27:04) and Colleen de Reuck (27:17), who had finished 5th in 1996 while competing for her native South Africa. Supporting the top two Americans were Jen Rhines (12th), Milena Glusac (23rd), Elva Dryer (28th), and Amy Rudolph (31st). The U.S. also had limited success in the Women’s short-course race, with Suzy Favor Hamilton taking 5th and Carrie Tollefson 11th.
Said Drossin after the race, “I knew that this was going to be a tough race, and it was the fact that we had a strong team going into the meet that kept me going and gave me the spirit to run faster than I ever have before.”
The Kenenisa Bekele era at the Championships began in earnest. The 19-year-old from Ethiopia, who had won the Junior title in 2001 (and was 2nd in the Senior short race), first won the short-course race, then completed his first of five straight double wins the next day with a victory in the long-course race.
Kenya’s Viola Kibiwott (20:13) won the Junior Women’s race over future greats Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH/20:14) and Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN/20:22). Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar finished 13th.
Finishing 5th in the Junior Men’s race was future marathon great Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya.
Other notable/U.S. finishers
Senior Men Long(12km/3-24): 2. John Yuda (TAN), 3. Wilberforce Talel (KEN), 4.Richard Limo (KEN), 5.Charles Kamathi (KEN), 10.Jaouad Gharib (MAR), 11.Abdi Abdirahman (USA), 14.Meb Keflezighi (USA), 17.Fita Bayissa (ETH), 24.Dathan Ritzenhein (USA), 30. Zersenay Tadesse (ERI), 48.Mark Carroll (IRL), 86.Clint Wells (USA), 93.Greg Jimmerson (USA); DNF-Mohammed Mourhit (BEL), Matt Downin (USA); Team:1.Kenya 18, 2.Ethiopia 43
Senior Men Short(4.208km/3-23): 2.Luke Kipkosgei (KEN), 3.Haylu Mekonnen (ETH), 4.Sammy Kipketer (KEN), 5.Craig Mottram (AUS), 10.Driss Maazouzi (FRA), 11.Jorge Torres (USA), 14.Isaac Viciosa (ESP), 16.Million Wolde (ETH), 18.Matt Lane (USA), 25.Gareth Turnbull (IRL), 35.Graham Hood (USA), 54.Ali Ezzine (MAR), 64.Dave Davis (USA), 83.Tony Cosey (USA), 97.Jonathon Riley (USA); Team:1.Kenya 20, 2.Ethiopia 32;
Senior Women Long (7.974km/3-23): 13. Ayelech Worku (ETH), 23.Milena Glusac (USA), 28.Elva Dryer (USA), 31.Amy Rudolph (USA), 52.Kim Smith (NZL), 71.Geraldine Hendricken (IRL); Team:1.Ethiopia 28, 2.USA 38, 3.Kenya 41
Senior Women Short (4.208km/3-24): 1. Edith Masai (KEN) 13:30, 2.Worknesh Kidane (ETH) 13:36, 5.Suzy Favor Hamilton (USA), 7.Sonia O’Sullivan (IRL), 11.Carrie Tollefson (USA), 25.Carla Sacramento (POR), 32.Sarah Toland (USA), 49. Émilie Mondor (CAN), 52.Janet Trujillo (USA), 53.Carmen Douma (CAN), 63.Mary Jayne Harrelson (USA), 66.Sarah Hann (USA), 76.Habiba Ghribi (TUN): Team: 1. Ethiopia 32, 2.Kenya 34, 3.Ireland 85;
Junior Men(7.974km/3-24):1.Gebre Gebremariam (ETH) 23:18, 2.Abel CHeruiyot (KEN) 23:19, 3.Boniface Kiprop (KEN) 23:28, 5.Eliud Kipchoge (KEN), 30.Rod Koborsi (USA), 33.Bill Nelson (USA), 39.Bobby Lockhart (USA), 54.Tim Moore (USA), 61.Simon Bairu (CAN); Team: 1. Kenya 18, 24.Ethiopia 24
Junior Women(5.962km/3-23):17.Erika Odlaug (USA), 36.Valerie Lauver (USA), 40.Nicole Lee (USA), 43.Sara Bei-Hall (USA), 47.Kathryn Anderson (USA), 68.Lisa Dobriskey (GBR), Team: 1. Kenya 13, 2.Ethiopia 24;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KB6xbHGXc4
2007–The IAAF reverted to its original one-day, one-distance format for the World X-Country Championships, which were held this year in oppressive weather conditions in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. Many runners were affected by temperatures in the 90s and the high humidity, the most significant of which was Kenenisa Bekele, who had swept the long- and short-course races the previous five years. After his last sweep in 2006, Bekele indicated that his days at World Cross were over, but he eventually decided to support the first Championships held in East Africa.
Already concerned about the conditions, Bekele was further alarmed before he went to the starting line when he saw how some of his fellow Ethiopians were suffering in their races.
But once the gun went off, Bekele appeared fine and seemed prepared to win a record 6th victory at the 12k distance (Kenyans John Ngugi and Paul Tergat each won five). He received an early challenge from Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse, who had finished 2nd to Bekele in 2005, but then opened up a quick 20-meter lead as the final loop approached. It was shortly after that move that Bekele started to falter. Things got so bad that he lost track of which loop he was on and finally stepped off the course after Tadesse passed him, much to the shock (and delight) of the 30,000 or so Kenyan fans who lined the course to support their runners. Bekele was done, but Tadesse (35:50) finished strongly to win by over 20 seconds. Said a dazed Bekele afterward, “I have never in my whole life participated in a race like this.” Three of Bekele’s countrymen, including his younger brother Tariku, also dropped out, leaving Ethiopia without the required six finishers for team scoring. Finishing 11th was Great Britain’s Mo Farah.
Kenyan-born Lornah Kiplagat (26:23), who has represented the Netherlands since 2003, used her experience performing well under similar conditions to win the women’s race. Finishing a distant second was Ethiopia’s great Tirunesh Dibaba (26:47), who had beaten Kiplagat to win the 2006 title. Dibaba, who also won the long short-course races in 2005, said, “To date, I have never run a race as difficult as this.”
The Junior Men’s race winner was Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop (24:07). 5th in the Junior Women’s race was Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba, who still holds World Indoor Records in the Mile, 3000, and 5000.
Many of the leading senior American men and women, concerned about the dire weather forecast for the Championships, chose to stay home. The U.S. didn’t even field a team for the Junior Women’s race after many parents, reacting to a State Department report of possible danger for Americans traveling in the area, decided to keep their daughters at home. Those fears proved unfounded, as no incidents occurred during the well-run Championships.
Other notable/U.S. finishers
Senior Men (12km): 2. Moses Mosop (KEN) 36:13, 9. Edwin Soi (KEN), 56.Michael Spence (USA), 88.Matt Gabrielson (USA), 99.Ryan Shay (USA), 103.Marty Rosendahl (USA), 112.Celenio Rodriguez (USA), 129.Fasil Bizuneh (USA); Team:1.Kenya 29, 2.Morocco 152
Senior Women (8km): 3.Meselech Malkamu (ETH), 4.Gelete Burka (ETH), 8.Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN), 36.Renee Metivier (USA), 39.Kathy Newberry (USA), 71.Mary Duerbeck (USA); Team:1.Ethiopia 19, 2.Kenya 26;
Junior Men (8km): 7.Imane Merga (ETH), 56.Kenny Klotz (USA), 81.Matt Hughes (CAN), 82.Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG), 86.Ryan McNiff (USA), 100.Matt Tebo (USA); DNF-Josh Edmonds (USA); Noel Bateman (USA); Team:1.Kenya 10, 2.Eritrea 44, 3.Ethiopia 54;
Junior Women (6km):1.Linet Barasa (KEN) 20:52, 23.Mercy Cherono (KEN); DNF-Sheila Reid (CAN); Team: 1. Kenya 13, 2.Eritrea 33, 3.Ethiopia 36;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships
2013—Runners from Kenya (5) and Ethiopia (6) won 11 and 12 individual medals at the World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Ben True’s 6th-place finish helped the U.S. team edge Kenya to win the silver medals in the Senior Men’s race. Backing up True with top-20 performances were Chris Derrick (10th), Ryan Vail (17th), and Bobby Mack (19th).
The U.S. women, led by Neely Spence (13th) and Emily Infeld (21st), finished 4th.
The Junior Women’s race winner was Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who edged teammate Agnes Jebet Tirop for the title(17:51 for both). Kipyegon would go on to become one of the greatest runners in history,
Other notable/U.S. finishers
Senior Men (12km): 1.Japhet Korir (KEN) 32:45, 2.Imane Merga (ETH) 32:51, 9.Feyisa Lilesa (ETH), 22.Mohammed Ahmed (CAN), 30.Elliott Heath (USA), 37.James Strang (USA); Team: 1. Ethiopia 38, 2.USA 52, 3.Kenya 54;
Senior Women (8km):1.Emily Chebet (KEN) 24:24, 2.Hiwot Ayalew (ETH) 24:27, 26.Mattie Suver (USA), 30.Kim Conley (USA), 34.Deena Kastor (USA), 47.Delilah DiCrescenzo (USA); Team: 1.Kenya 19, 2.Ethiopia 48, 3.Bahrain 73, 4. USA 90;
Junior Men (8km):1.Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 21:04, 2.Leonard Barsoton (KEN) 21:08, 3.Muktar Edris (ETH) 21:13, 20.Matt McClintock (USA), 24.Craig Nowak (USA), 33.Morgan McDonald (AUS), 36, Darren Fahy (USA), 40.Thomas Graham (USA), 42.Andrew Gardner (USA); Team:1.Ethiopia 23, 2.Kenya 26, 3.Morocco 65, 4. USA 106;
Junior Women (6km):20.Carrie Verdon (USA), 21.Amy Eloise-Neal (GBR), 23.Emily Stites (USA), 34.Erin Finn (USA), 38.Sydney Scott (USA), 44.Samantha Nadel (USA); Team: 1. Kenya 14, 2.Ethiopia 23
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships
Senior Men Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN48Gjl7gCo
Deena Kastor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woVe9vURRDY
Ben True & Team Find Out They Won Silver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iY5xj9lx8c
True Pre-Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTzUOB8pU7M
World Cross-Past Winners (from 1973 to present)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Athletics_Cross_Country_Championships
Born On This Day*
Floyd Heard 58 (1966) 1986 NCAA Champion—200m (Texas A&M)
1987 Pan-American Games Champion-200m
2000 U.S. Olympian—200m (semi-finalist)
6th at the 1987 World Championships
Member of the Santa Monica Track Club teams that set these World Records:
4×100-37.79, 1991 (Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis)
4×200-1:19.38, 1989 (Danny Everett, Burrell, Heard, Lewis)
4×200-1:19.11, 1992 (Marsh, Burrell, Heard, Lewis)
4×200-1:18.68, 1994 (Marsh, Burrell, Heard, Lewis)
PBs: 10.10(1991), 19.88(2000)
Ranked #1 in the World in the 200 in 1986 (’87-4, ’89-3, ’90-4, ’91-9)
Made the U.S. top-10 rankings 10 times from 1986-2002 (#1 in 1986 & 1989)
Former Assistant coach at Houston
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/floyd-heard-1124
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/89134
https://uhcougars.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/coaches/floyd-heard/446
T&F News Rankings(for subscribers?): https://trackandfieldnews.com/rankings/
Renaldo Nehemiah 65 (1959/Updated) Arguably the greatest hurdler of all time
Hall-of-Famer…Also a member of the inaugural class of the National H.S. Hall of Fame
Set 3 World Records in the 110-hurdles—13.16 (1979), 13.00 (1979), 12.93 (1981)
Set 5 World Indoor Records in the 60y-hurdles—7.07 (1978), 7.02, 6.95, 6.89 (all 1979), 6.82 (1982)
4-time winner at the Millrose Games-60yh (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982)
3-time U.S. Champion (1978-1980); 1979 U.S. Indoor Champion—60yh
1979 NCAA Champion (Maryland); 2nd to Greg Foster in 1978…The two would have a great rivalry for years
Set a Collegiate Record of 13.00 (also the WR) in 1979—the record stood for 40 years until Florida’s Grant Holloway ran 12.98 in
2019
Ranked #1 in the world 4 years in a row (1978-1981)…after leaving the sport to play in the NFL, he returned to the World
Rankings in 1988 (#10, 1989-4, 1990-6, 1991-4). (Played 4 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, winning a Super Bowl ring
in 1984—called it his “Olympic Gold Medal” after being denied a chance to compete at the 1980 Olympics due to the U.S.
Boycott).
Put on quite a show at the 1979 Penn Relays, anchoring Maryland to wins in the 4×200, 4×400, and Shuttle Hurdles relays. His
come-from-behind anchor leg in the 4×400 was especially memorable but so painful for Nehemiah that he thought he was
having a heart attack while he tried to recover after the race.
Could you read his first-hand account below?
He also put on a show at the 1977 Eastern States Championships at St.John’s University in Jamaica, NY. There were at least
three wind gauges handy, all because of the presence of the talented senior from Scotch Plains-Fanwood(NJ) H.S.
He had been producing spectacular multiple performances all season, whether it be sprints, long jump, highs, intermediates, or
relay legs. But even his most optimistic fans had to be shocked by his three races in the 120-yard hurdles on Memorial Day. He
started with a 13.0 heat, a new National Record of .2s(The wind was OK). Immediately, officials measured the track and found it
to be 2-3/4” short, although a surveyor had certified the track. Instead of remeasuring, they just extended the finish
line three inches to be safe for the next two rounds. Nehemiah “only” ran a wind-aided 13.1 in the semis despite
hitting a couple of hurdles. He saved his best for last, running 12.9, one of the greatest performances in H.S. history (the
previous record of 13.2 was shared by Mike Roberson, Dedy Cooper, and Greg Foster, who would become one of his biggest
rivals for years. As Elliott Denman wrote at the time, “It was a utopian performance….on, appropriately, the track on Utopia
Parkway..” (From Eastern Track). Nehemiah received some excellent coaching from Jean Poquette during his high school
career. http://hurdlesfirstbeta.com/free-articles/profiles/jean-poquette-guide-great-one/
T&F News H.S. Athlete of the Year in 1977—and no wonder!:
Marks in his senior year in high school (1977):
6.9y-60h (=National Record), 7.2y-60h (=NR), 9.4y, 20.9y, 12.9y, 13.5m (42”/Nat’l Record), 13.89m (NR), 35.8-330yh (NR),
24-11 1/2
WR Video (12.93): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMUTzp-y2uc
40th Anniversary: https://worldathletics.org/heritage/news/renaldo-nehemiah-anniversary-sub-13-110m-hurdles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaldo_Nehemiah
https://www.si.com/vault/1998/09/28/249596/renaldo-nehemiah-would-be-football-star-april-26-1982
https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/renaldo-nehemiah
http://nationalhighschooltrackandfieldhof.org/showcase/renaldo-nehemiah/
https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/renaldo-nehemiah-14354067
WR Progression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_110_metres_hurdles_world_record_progression
https://www.college-sports-journal.com/renaldo-nehemiah-owned-the-track-field-world/
http://hurdlesfirstbeta.com/free-articles/profiles/renaldo-nehemiah-master-art-form/
Rankings: https://trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/rankings
Penn Relays
NFL Stats: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NeheRe00.htm
Memories from Penn
Nehemiah’s one-day performance at the 1979 Relays, where he ran three great anchor legs for Maryland, is considered one of the greatest [maybe THE greatest] in Relays history. Here’s what I wrote in Eastern Track at the time:
“It rained during most of Thursday’s women’s program, poured that evening while the distance races were going on, rained off and on for the next two days, and everyone was muttering about the unfairness of it all after months of anticipation for this annual spectacle. That is, until late Saturday afternoon when Renaldo Nehemiah provided his own form of sunshine.” (Renaldo had set the first of his three world records in the 110-hurdles just two weeks before Penn).
“My most vivid memory is of my 4×400 anchor leg. Although that day, which was cold and dreary, is remembered by so many for how I overcame huge deficits, I still remember the agonizing pain I had once I crossed the finish line of that last race. The stadium was completely empty when I finally recovered from that 400 leg. I was in so much pain, I actually thought I was going to have a heart attack.”
As for the races themselves… (Nehemiah had already anchored the winning shuttle hurdles relay at 2:10pm) The 4×200 at 5:00) actually hurt the most while I ran it. When I got the stick, we were behind what appeared to be about 15-20 meters. All I know is that I was embarrassed and just wanted to make it look competitive to the home stretch. Even in a defeat, I figured it wouldn’t look so bad if I gained substantially and then faded. When I approached the last turn, I realized I wasn’t far behind. Maybe some 7-8 meters. So, I just put my head down and responded to the crowd’s frenzied state. And that’s how I passed the other runners within the last five meters. (unofficial split-19.4!) That one kicked my butt physically because I had to sprint all out for the entire race. That’s not usually how a 200 is run.
I was already somewhat tired when it came around to the 4×400 final (6:00), and I didn’t care that much about winning. I just wanted Maryland to look respectable. But that was going to be difficult. Because, following the previous day’s qualifying round in which I ran the 2nd leg, coach Frank Costello, in a team meeting, decided to put me on anchor. And my teammate, Chris Person(400mh), took it personally and was visibly upset. Although the coach and the other members felt Chris was good, they all said they would rather have me on the anchor if it was close. So, on race day, I’m the anchor, and wouldn’t you know it, our lead-off leg, usually a 47-point runner, ran 48-49 seconds. We were instantly well behind.
And we made no gains out of the following two legs. When I got the stick, it appeared that the other runners were almost already taking the 2nd turn and headed down the backstretch. Angered and embarrassed, I took the stick and sprinted as hard as possible to make up some ground. And although I knew I was running faster than advisable, I figured I’d hold on again until the final turn before hitting the wall. It would be okay to lose at that point since I was so far behind. I would save face.
But wouldn’t you know those fans on the third turn are wild and crazy! I was just trying not to fall apart as I approached the turn. I felt, heard, and sensed the roars starting to get louder. I even heard the chanting and the drums from the Jamaicans. I immediately tried to respond by starting my kick to add a desperate, last-minute surge before dying. And it was as if my body went numb and had no feeling. So, I just ran harder and harder as the noise got louder. Before I knew it, I could see (Villanova’s) Tim Dale and the finish line about 20 meters before me. As I was overwhelmed by the pain, I dug one more time with all I had, surged past a fading Dale, and believed I had won by a couple of meters. (split-44.3!)
When I finally emerged from the training room an hour and a half later, I told myself that I would never feel that type of pain again in my life. And I never ran another 400m.
I’m amazed that so many people attended the relays that year and continue telling me they’ve never seen a performance like that. All in one day. I’m just happy that I was blessed to have been able to deliver. And to have left quite an impression on the many who were there and those who wished they were there. I was always motivated by the “Wow” theory. And on that day, I guessed I “Wowed’ them.”
Deceased
Mel Rosen 90 (1928-March 25,2018) Hall of Famer coached at Auburn from 1955-1991(became head coach in 1963)
Head Men’s U.S. coach at the 1992 Olympics(Assistant in 1984); Also the coach at the 1987 World Championships
Among the athletes he coached at Auburn were Harvey Glance, Willie Smith, and James Walker
Known for his quick wit, he was one of the most popular figures in the sport.
Born in The Bronx, he grew up in Brooklyn, where he was a member of the famous “Knothole Gang” at Dodgers games.
He was a ¼-miler in high school and went on to compete for the University of Iowa
Passed away in 2018, a day after turning 90. His daughter Karen has written about Olympic sports (including T&F) for
decades, shared some stories about her dad at his Memorial Service:
Here’s one of them: “Unfortunately, my editors at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wouldn’t allow me to quote my father when
he was the head U.S. Men’s coach at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. I was assigned to cover the women’s team, but my ‘
My colleagues kept asking me to get information about the men from Dad. He said, “Just tell them, ‘A source who used to
change my diaper said…”
NY Times Obituary U.S. Hall of Fame USTFCCCA HOF
https://auburntigers.com/sports/xctrack/roster/coaches/mel-rosen/72
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Rosen
Albert Hill-Great Britain 79 (1889-Jan.8, 1969) 1920 Olympic gold medalist—800, 1500 (Silver in the 3000m team race)
He had to convince British selectors that he could attempt the double at 31!
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69148
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Hill_(athlete)
OG 800: https://www.olympedia.org/results/57101
OG 1500: https://www.olympedia.org/results/57113
