This Day in Track & Field, April 13, Drake Relays held in snowstorm (1910), Dutch Warmerdam sets first WR (1940), Paula Radcliffe runs WR Marathon (2003)2:15.25, by Walt Murphy

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

This Day in Track & Field–April  13

1910–The first edition of the Drake Relays was held in a snowstorm. A chilled group of 82 competitors were barely outnumbered by a “crowd” of 100 fans.

Sports Illustrated article on Relay meets in general: https://vault.si.com/vault/1955/05/02/the-relays

Drake Site: https://godrakebulldogs.com/index.aspx?path=dr

1940–Cornelius “Dutch” Warmerdam got the first of his seven “World Records” in the Pole Vault and became the first man in history to clear 15’, getting over that exact height (4.572m) in Edwards Stadium in Berkeley, California.

While there was nothing wrong with any of his seven record vaults, only 3 were ratified by the IAAF for administrative reasons.

Dutch’s WRs (bold-ratified)

15-00           4.57     Berkeley,CA  April 13,1940

15-01  1/8  4.60    Fresno,CA  June 29, 1940

15-02  5/8   4.64     Stanford,CA  April 12, 1941

15-04  ¼      4.68     Compton,CA  June 6, 1941

15-05  ¾    4.72    Compton,CA June 6, 1941

15-06  7/8   4.74     Berkeley,CA May 2, 1942

15-07  ¾    4.77    Modesto,CA  May 23, 1942  (The last WR set with a bamboo pole!)

NY Times Obituary

1996—Fresno State frosh Melissa Price, one of the early stars of American pole vaulting, jumped 13-5  ¼ (4.10) in Fresno to set the 9^th (and last) American Record of her career. The 5’-2” Price had set her first seven records the year before as a senior at Kingsburg(CA) H.S.

            Price was ranked #1 in the U.S. by Track & Field News in 1994 and 1995, but then the Stacy Dragila era kicked in later in 1996, relegating Price to the #2 position that year and in 1997 (She would remain in the top-10 through 2000).

Video:13-1  ¾ [4.10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2kV-3OCiM8

In The Beginning

2002—Among the winners at the Arcadia (CA) H.S. Inv. were junior Allyson Felix (L.A. Baptist) in the 100 (11.54) and 200 (23.08) and sophomore Natasha Hastings (A.P. Randolph,NYC) in the 400 (53.42).

Both would have exemplary careers and both became moms—Felix’s daughter Camryn was born on November 28, 2018, and Hastings’ son Liam was born on August 6, 2019.

Felix: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyson_Felix

Hastings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Hastings

DyeStat Coverage: http://archive.dyestat.com/us/2out/arcadia/index.htm

Stats Courtesy of Mirko Jalava  (https://www.tilastopaja.eu)

Felix

7 Olympic Golds–2008: 4×4; 2012: 200, 4×1, 4×4; 2016: 4×1, 4×4; 2021: 4×4

14 World Titles—’05: 200 ‘07: 200, 4×1, 4×4 ‘09: 200, 4×4 ‘11: 4×1, 4×4 ‘15: 400 ‘17: 4×1, 4×4; ’19:4×4(1^st round),

Mixed 4×4; ’22-4×400 (1^st round)

4 x 400m World Indoor Champion 2010

3 Olympic Silvers–2004: 200 2008: 200 2016: 400

3 World Championships Silvers–2011: 400 2015: 4×1, 4×4

1 Olympic Bronze—2021: 400

3 World Championships Bronzes–2011: 200 2017: 400 2022: mixed 4×400

PBs:7.10(2012), 10.89(2012), 21.69 (2012/#5 All-Time U.S., #9-World), 49.26 (2015/#6  All-Time U.S.)

Hastings

2 Olympic Golds–2008: 4×4 2016: 4×4

4 World Titles–2007: 4×4 2009: 4×4 2011: 4×4 2013: 4×4

3 World Indoor Titles–2010: 4×4 2014: 4×4 2016: 4×4

4 x 400m World Championships Silver Medalist 2015

4 x 400m World Indoor Silver Medalist 2012

400m World Indoor Bronze Medalist 2012

2007 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion-400m (South Carolina)

PBs:11.24 (2013), 22.57 (2016), 36.25i (2016), 49.84 (2007), 50.80i (2007)

2002—A day after winning the 100 (10.00w) and 200 (20.06) on his home-track at the Sea-Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tennessee sophomore Justin Gatlin helped the Vols win the 4×100 (39.08/2^nd leg) and 4×400 (3:02.14/44.2-3^rd leg) relays.

South Carolina set a Collegiate Record of 3:26.98 in the Women’s 4×400. Texas set the previous Record of 3:27.08 in 1999.  (Tiffany Ross 53.2, Lashinda Demus 51.4, Lisa Barber 51.5, Demetria Washington 50.9)

2003–Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe ran 2:15:25 in London to set a World Record in the Marathon. Radcliffe had set the previous mark of 2:17:18 in Chicago the previous year. Finishing 3rd was Deena Drossin (Kastor), who ran 2:21:16 to break Joan Benoit Samuelson’s 18-year old American Record of 2:21:21.

      Confusion led to an uproar in the running community when it was feared those records would be wiped out after the IAAF ruled in 2011 that women’s world records could not be set in mixed-competition.  But the IAAF allayed any fears when it said the ruling would only apply to future record alterations.

            David Monti’s Report: http://www.flotrack.org/article/30894-flashback-paula-radcliffe-s-marathon-wr

Video(last 90 seconds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLLSKmpMKe4

http://tinyurl.com/MarathonRecords

NYRR Hall of Fame: http://www.nyrr.org/about-us/nyrr-hall-of-fame/paula-radcliffe

Radcliffe: http://www.paularadcliffe.com/

            (2013): http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/apr/20/paula-radcliffe-london-marathon-record

            Send-Off:

www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/apr/19/paula-radcliffe-london-marathon-rousing-send-off-final-race

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3056114/Paula-Radcliffe-ends-illustrious-marathon-career-emotional-run-London.html

Records Controversy

            http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/sports/for-womens-road-records-only-women-only-races-will-count.html?_r=0

            http://espn.go.com/espnw/news/article/7009299/commentary-negating-existing-records-punishes-heroic-women

            http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/14342/radcliffe-claims-iaaf-world-marathon-record-change-qunfairq

            www.espn.go.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/7212726/paula-radcliffe-keep-women-marathon-record-iaaf-reverses-decision

2007—Shalane Flanagan set an American Record of 14:44.80 for 5000-meters at the Mt.SAC Relays

https://www.letsrun.com/2007/shalanerecord1444.php

Born On This Day*

Sinclaire Johnson 27 (1998)  2019 NCAA Champion—1500m (Oklahoma State)

              6^th in the 1500 at the 2025 World Indoor Championships

              4^th at the 2019 U.S. Championships

              2022 U.S. Champion…Finished at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene

              Finalist at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials (12^th)

              PBs: 1:59.90 (2022), 3:56.75 (2024), 4:04.07i (2025), 4:23.58i (2025), 8:37.83i (2023)

              Collegiate PB: 4:05.98 (2019/#3 All-Time)

AJ Acosta  37 (1988)  2005 Foot Locker X-Country Champion; 2006 U.S. Junior Champion—1500m;

              2-time NCA Indoor Champion—Distance Medley ( Oregon/’09,’10);

              PBs-3:36.41 (’12), 3:53.76 (’10);

              http://archive.dyestat.com/3us/5xc/footlocker/finals/index.htm

              AJ Nation:

              http://archive.dyestat.com/3us/5xc/footlocker/AJAcostaFeature.html

              www.dailyemerald.com/2011/06/01/a-j-acosta-and-his-nation-leave-a-legacy-behind-at-oregon/

              Oregon Bio: http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=653501

Colleen de Reuck  61 (1964) bronze medalist—2002 World X-Country Championships

              4-time Olympian (1^st 3 for South Africa, 4^th for U.S.)

                (’92/9^th-marathon, ’96/13^th-10,000, ’00/31^st-marathon, ‘04/39^th-marathon)

              11th at the 2017 Houston Marathon at the age of 52! (2:51:01), 64^th at the 2016 U.S.

                  Olympic Marathon Trials (2:49:56)

              Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleen_De_Reuck

              http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/75230

              2008 Article:

              http://runnersworld.com/olympic-trials/an-interview-with-marathon-runner-colleen-de-reuck-from-runners

Ceci Hopp-St.Geme  62 (1963)  1994 U.S. Champion—5000m; 1982 NCAA Champion—3000m (Stanford);

              1980 Kinney (Foot Locker) X-Country Champion; 1981 U.S. Junior Champion—3000m;

              http://paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/sports/1994_Jun_22.TRACK.html

              http://gostanford.com/fls/30600/halloffame/profile-chopp.html

              https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Greenwich-running-legend-Ceci-Hopp-St-Geme-a-1448184.php

Deceased

Ben Plucknett  48 (1954-Nov.17, 2002) Threw the Discus  233-7(71.20) and  237-4 (72.34) in 1981, but the

                 marks weren’t accepted as World Records after an earlier drug test showed that he had used

                 an anabolic steroid. However, the marks were accepted as American Records by the U.S.

                 federation (TAC).

              www.nytimes.com/2002/11/22/sports/ben-plucknett-48-track-star-who-lost-record-after-drug-test.html

              T&F News Interview(1984):

              https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ben-plucknett.pdf

Ed Hamm 76 (1906-June 25, 1982) 1928 Olympic gold medalist—Long Jump (Set an Olympic Record of 25-4  ½ [7.73])

              Set a World Record of 25-11  1/8 (7.90) at the 1928 U.S. Olympic Trials in Boston

              2-time NCAA Champion (Georgia Tech/1927,1928, 2^nd in 1930 after redshirting in 1929)

              3-time Penn Relays Champion (1927,1928,1930)

              Set a U.S. High School Record of 24-2  5/8 (7.38+) as a junior in 1924 (Lonoke H.S., Arkansas)

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

              https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78509

Harold Osborn 76 (1899-April 5, 1975) 1924 Olympic gold medalist—High Jump & Decathlon!

            Only decathlon medalist to also win an individual event at the Olympics

            Set World Records in both events: HJ (6-7  ¾ [2.03]/1924), DEC: 7710.775/1924 OG/6476-current tables)

            Among his 18 U.S. titles:

High Jump–1925, 1926; Indoors-1923-1926

            Decathlon–1923, 1925, 1926

            Charter member of the National Hall of Fame(1974)

            https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78864

Dave Albritton  81 (1913-May 15, 1994) 1936 Olympic silver medalist—High Jump…lost on misses to fellow American

Cornelius (Corny) Johnson as both cleared the World Record height of 6-9  ¾ (2.07). First Olympic medalist to use

     the “straddle” technique

5-time U.S. Champion…won his first in 1937, his last in 1950! 1944 U.S. Indoor Champion

3-time co-winner at the NCAA Championships (1936-1938/Ohio State)

Jesse Owens connection—both were born in Alabama, both attended East Tech H.S. in Cleveland, both were

      coached at Ohio State by Larry Snyder, both medaled at the 1936 Olympics

Inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1990

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78032

http://legacy.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=4

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

Joie Ray  84 (1894-May 15, 1978)  3-time U.S. Olympian: 1920-1500 (8^th), 1924-3000m/Team(Bronze),

     1928-10,000 (14^th), Marathon (5^th)…Only American to compete in the 1500 AND the Marathon at the

     Olympics

Among his 17 U.S. titles:

Mile:1915, 1917-1923

2-Miles(Indoors): 1916, 1923, 1924

10,000-Meters—1916, 1928

7-time winner of the Wanamaker 1-1/2 Mile at the Millrose Games (1917-1920, 1922-1924)

Set two World Indoor Records in the Mile—4:14.6 (1919), 4:12.0 (1925)

3^rd at the 1928 Boston Marathon

Ran 6:11.5 for the mile (1600m?) on his 70^th birthday!

Inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 1976

PBs: 1:53.0(‘24), 3:57.0i/1500(‘20), 4:14.4(‘19), 8:31.2i(‘23), 9:08.4i(‘23), 31:28.4(‘28), 2:34:13.4(‘28)

https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78930

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joie_Ray_(runner)

           www.nytimes.com/1978/05/16/archives/joie-ray-84-dead-starred-as-runner-set-world-indoor-mile-mark-in-24.html

Charles Sherrill 69 (1867-June 25, 1936)  Credited with becoming the first man to use the “crouching” start in a sprint

   race (at least in the U.S.–see below).

In addition to winning 7 IC4A sprint titles in the late 1880s (4-100y/1887-1890, 3-220y/1888-1890), the Yale

    grad was also the 1887 U.S. Champion in the 100-yard dash.

In 1894, he organized the first international collegiate track meet, a match between Yale and Oxford. Sherrill went

    on to have a distinguished career as a lawyer, a U.S. ambassador, and as a pivotal member of the International

    Olympic Committee.

Reportedly learned the new starting  technique from famed coach Mike Murphy, who observed runners such as New

    Zealand’s Bobby MacDonald using the innovative style on the professional circuit in Australia and New Zealand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Sherrill_(ambassador)

http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/899330

(For Subscribers) NY Times Obituary(1936): https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/06/26/87953037.html?pageNumber=19

Murphy: https://archives.upenn.edu/exhibits/penn-people/biography/michael-c-murphy/