by RBR Admin
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
This Day in Track & Field–January 30
1924-Future Hall-of-Famer Joie Ray(6:48.8) surprised those who thought his best days were behind him by winning the Wanamaker One-and-a-Half Mile (the forerunner of the Wanamaker Mile) at the Millrose Games for the 7th time.
Loren Murchison was a double winner, finishing 1st in the 60y (6.8) and the 300y.
(For Subscribers)
1-29: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1924/01/31/100234693.html?pageNumber=11
1-30: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1924/01/31/100234693.html
1954–Tom Murphy (my cousin), a senior at St.Augustine H.S. in Brooklyn,NY, ran 1:14.0 at the NYU meet at NY’s Armory to set his 2nd National Flat-Floor Record for 600-yards. He had set the previous mark of 1:14.1 two weeks earlier at the Armory at the Cardinal Hayes Games.
1960—John Thomas won the Millrose High Jump with a leap of 7-1 ½ (2.17), breaking his own World Record of 7-1 ¼ (2.16+). Jim Grelle, the 1959 NCAA Mile champion from Oregon, won the Wanamaker Mile in 4:06.4, and Tom Murphy won his 2nd Millrose 880y.
It was the 2nd Millrose win in a row for Thomas, who had electrified the Garden crowd in 1959 by becoming the first man to clear 7-feet indoors—at the age of 17!
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/01/31/99473949.html?pageNumber=208
Sports Illustrated Vault(Grelle and American milers):
https://vault.si.com/vault/1960/02/08/rome-via-eighth-avenue
1964—Bob Hayes (6.1) overcame a poor start to narrowly win the 60y sprint over Fordham’s Sam Perry at the Millrose Games, the first of 5 meets that would be held at Madison Square Garden during the winter. Hayes would go on to win Olympic gold in the 100 and 4×100 in Tokyo later in the year.
20-year old Canadian Bruce Kidd (13:32.4) won the 3-mile over Bob Schul (13:33.8), who would win Olympic gold in the 5000-meters in Tokyo.
Winner of the Wanamaker Mile for the 2nd year in a row was Tom O’Hara, who fell just short of giving the meet its first sub-4 minute mile with his winning time of 4:00.6. (Attendance-16,004)
Credit: Thomas J. Dyba, photographer
1965—Canada’s Bill Crothers (1:09.3), the silver medalist in the 800-meters at the 1964 Olympics, came from behind to beat Tom Farrell (1:09.8), 5th in that Olympic 800 final, in a hot 600y at the Boston A.A. meet.
It was the 3rd victory In as many nights for Crothers, who had won the ½-mile (1:51.2) at the Millrose Games on Friday and the 600y (1:11.2) in Toronto the following night.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Crothers
1970–It was a classic matchup in the 600y at the Millrose Games at NY’s Madison Square Garden. In the field were world record holder Martin McGrady, Lee Evans and Larry James, the gold and silver medalists in the 400 at the 1968 Olympics, and Curtis Mills, who had beaten Evans and James in the 440 at the previous year’s NCAA Championships.
In the battle for the lead going into the first turn, McGrady got bumped and quickly found himself 8 yards behind Evans and James. Displaying the style that earned him the title ”Chairman of the Boards” (this was the pre-Eamonn Coghlan era), McGrady came from behind to win in 1:10.0 over Evans (1:10.5), James (1:11.0), and Mills (1:14.0).
When asked about McGrady’s strategy, coach Brooks Johnson replied, “What strategy? He didn’t win that race with any strategy. Just with super adrenalin and super guts.”
Tom Von Ruden regained the American Record in the 1000-yards with his winning time of 2:07.1.
Sports Illustrated Vault(Violent World of the 600)
https://vault.si.com/vault/1970/02/09/the-brief-violent-world-of-the-600
1971–Lee Evans equaled his World Record of 54.4 for 500-yards on the 220y-banked track in Pocatello, Idaho.
Despite running at 4,700’, John Mason was able to win 3 events within 90-minutes. First up was the Mile (4:03.1), followed only 15 minutes later by the mile-steeplechase (4:31.5/3 barriers per lap), and finally the 1000-yards (2:12.0).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Evans_(athlete)
1971—It might not have been apparent at the time, but this would be the final edition of the Boston A.A. meet, a major fixture on the indoor circuit for more than 80 years!
A new audience got to see first-hand Dr. Delano Meriwether, the “new kid on the block”, who provided the highlight of the meet, winning the 50-yard dash over veteran Mel Pender, and tying the meet record of 5.3, which had been shared by the likes of Barney Ewell, Andy Stanfield, Sam Perry, Lennox Miller, and Pender.
https://vault.si.com/vault/1971/01/18/hey-i-can-beat-those-guys
1976—A Madison Square Garden record crowd of 18,142 witnessed some fine performances at the Millrose Games.
Front-running Paul Cummings won the Wanamaker Mile at the Milrose Games and set a Meet Record of 3:57.6. 2nd in 4:01.3 was 1974 winner Tony Waldrop.
Tom Woods won the deepest Men’s High Jump in history with a Meet Record of 7-4 ¼ (2.24), with Rory Kotinek, Dwight Stones, and Ron Livers all clearing 7-3 ¼ (2.22). That was the same order of finish at the 1975 U.S. Outdoor Championships.
Senior Houston McTear (Baker,FL) won the 60-yard dash in 5.9, tying the U.S. High School Record he already shared with Bill Gaines.
Jan Merrill won the Women’s 1500-Meters in 4:15.2, easily beating rival Francie Larrieu (4:21.4) for the 1st time.
Joni Huntley set a Meet Record of 6-2 ½ (1.89) in the Women’s High Jump.
https://vault.si.com/vault/1976/02/09/remember-this-is-leap-year
Results(For Subscribers): https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1976/01/31/75571528.html?pageNumber=43
1981–There was a hot mile at the Sunkist Invitation in Los Angeles, with Steve Scott (3:53.7) beating Eamonn Coghlan (3:54.3) and Ray Flynn (3:54.4).
Renaldo Nehemiah set a World Record of 6.01 in the seldom-run 50-yard hurdles, then came back to win over 60-yards in a quick 6.98 .
All-Time Indoor Mile List (at the time)
3:52.6 Eamonn Coghlan San Diego 1979
3:52.9 Coghlan Los Angeles 1980
3:53.0 Steve Scott Los Angeles 1980
3:53.7 Scott Los Angeles 1981
3:54.1 Scott San Diego 1979
3:54.3 Coghlan Los Angeles 1981
3:54.4 Ray Flynn Los Angeles 1981
3:54.5 Filbert Bayi Los Angeles 1980
3:54.7 Steve Lacy San Diego 1979
3:54.93 Dick Buerkle College Park 1978
1982–Renaldo Nehemiah set a World Record of 6.82 in the 60-yard hurdles in Dallas.
1987–Eamonn Coghlan, denied his 7th Wanamaker Mile win in 1986 by fellow Irishman (and Villanova Wildcat) Marcus O’Sullivan, returned to the Millrose Games at NY’s Madison Square Garden with the goal of finally breaking his tie at six with Glenn Cunningham for the most-ever wins in the fabled race.
With a crowd of more than 18,000 roaring its approval, Coghlan blew by O’Sullivan on the final lap to win in 3:55.91, with O’Sullivan close behind in 3:56.49. Great Britain’s Steve Ovett, making his Millrose debut, was never a factor and finished last in 4:14.52.
The “Chairman of the Boards” reflected on his final Wanamaker Mile win in 2007 on the occasion of the 100th Millrose Games:
“The race is still quite clear in my mind. I knew Marcus was in great shape and was going to try to prevent me from winning the 7th Wanamaker. I just sat in the pack with Marcus. Every time we came into the turn, Marcus went high and I went low. So I felt quite confident that I was ready to nab him at any stage. Marcus made a move with 1 and a half laps to go. With 1 lap to go, I did something I never had done before. I went past Marcus in one move on the turn. I remember the noise of the crowd, wooing me on. I saw the replay on the screen. It was me coming off the turn, with Marcus with a big smile on his face, kind of congratulating me.”
The oval races were conducted on a reconstructed Garden track.
https://www.nytimes.com/1976/01/25/archives/a-rebuilt-track-awaits-millrose.html
Sports Illustrated Vault:
1988–Villanova, with a lineup of Celeste Halliday (2:06.8), Michelle DiMuro (56.1), Kathy Franey (3:22.7), and Vicki Huber (4:28.7) ran 10:54.34 to set a World Record in the Distance Medley in Gainesville, Florida (since broken).
2009—Bernard Lagat (3:58.44) won his 7th Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games to tie Eamonn Coghlan for the most wins ever in the iconic event. Lagat would break the tie the following year with his 8th win.
Watching the race side-by-side at trackside were Coghlan and Millrose Director Howard Schmertz!
Australia’s Steve Hooker set a meet record of 19-8 ½ (6.01) in the Pole Vault, then had 3 unsuccessful attempts at the World Record height of 20-2 ½ (6.16).
Robby Andrews (Manalapan,NJ) won the Boys H.S. Mile in 4:17.42.
Results: http://www.flashresults.com/2009_Meets/indoor/Millrose/index.htm
Video Highlights (Lagat’s 1st and 7th wins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi2IaTg8ITE
2010—Oregon’s Ashton Eaton set a Collegiate Record of 6256 points in the Heptathlon in College Station,Texas. The previous record of 6208 was set by Texas’ Trey Hardee in 2008.
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/eaton-tallies-6256pts-us-collegiate-heptathlo
2016–After waiting on line to pay the $10 entry fee, Jenn Suhr cleared 16-6 (5.03) at a small meet in Brockport,NY. While Suhr’s mark was ratified by USATF as an American Record (she held the previous mark of 16-5 ½ (5.02), it was not accepted as a World Record, since the required drug-testing did not take place within the IAAF’s prescribed time-frame.
“You just don’t see people break [world] records at small meets,” Rick Suhr, the vaulter’s coach and husband, told local reporters. “But she’s capable of that. She’s posted big marks, just huge marks all year. That’s a huge, huge jump.”
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/suhr-pole-vault-world-indoor-record
Video: https://twitter.com/JennSuhr/status/693865105616977920
2016–Finishing 5th in a race won by Garrett Heath (7:48.48), senior Drew Hunter (Loudoun Valley,Va) ran 7:59.33 for 3000-meters at the Camel City Invitational in Winston-Salem,NC to break Edward Cheserek’s U.S. High School Record of 8:05.46. Hunter’s time also bettered German Fernandez’s Outdoor Record of 7:59.83.
http://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=392404
2021—Baylor’s K.C. Lightfoot cleared 19-6 ¼ (5.95) in the Pole Vault in Lubbock, Texas, to break his 2-week old Collegiate Record of 19-5 ¾ (5.94). He would improve the Record to 19-8 ¼ (6.00) the following month.
Significant Birthdays
Born On This Day*
Brandon Miller 23 (2002) 2022 NCAA Indoor Champion—800m, 4×400 (Texas A&M)…3rd in the 800 outdoors (2nd-2021)
3rd in the 800 at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials…semi-finalist at the Paris Olympics
3rd at the 2022 U.S. Championships—competed in the first round at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene
Set a World Junior/Under-20 Indoor record of 1:15.49 for 600-meters in 2022.
PBs: 46.30 (2022), 1:14.03i (2024/#2 All-Time World, U.S.), 1:43.73 (2024), 1:45.24i (2022), 3:40.11 (2024)
2025 SB: 1:45.50i
https://www.theovalmagazine.com/post/the-brandon-miller-story
600: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrjS9SGorRk
NCAA 800: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbGZHdkg_gw
Angela Williams 45 (1980) 4-time NCAA Champion (1999-2002)—100m (USC)
2002 NCAA Indoor Champion-60m
2-time World Indoor Champion—60m (2003, 2008/2001-silver)
2-time U.S. Indoor Champion-60m (2003, 2008)
1998 World Junior Champion-4×100 (silver-100m)
2-time National Scholastic Indoor Champion-60m (1997, 1998)
1997 and 1998 T&F News Female H.S. Athlete of the Year
PBs: 7.06 (2008), 11.02 (2008);
College PB:7.09(2001/=#12 All-Time College)
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Williams_(sprinter_born_1980)
Michael Stember 47 (1978) 2004 U.S. Indoor Champion—800m; 2000 U.S. Olympian—1500m (Semi-finalist)
NCAA (Stanford)
Outdoors: 1500-2000 (2nd), 2001 (4th)
Indoors: Distance Medley-2000 (1st/Set a World Indoor Record of 9:28.83-since broken)
(Gabe Jennings 2:52.1, Evan Kelty 46.3, Michael Stember 1:48.4, Jonathan Riley 4:00.0)
PBs:1:46.20 (2000), 2:18.57 (2002), 3:35.11 (2000), 3:58.40i (2003/O.T.)
Has enjoyed success as a Sushi Master Chef
https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated/2018/03/06/life-raw-michael-stember
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stember
DMR: https://gostanford.com/news/2000/3/10/208065207.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RAtfeiO2UQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQpZo9uFbtI
Nolan Cromwell 70 (1955) All-American in the 440y-hurdles (Kansas/8th-1975 NCAA); PB: 49.74 (1976);
Played quarterback for Kansas; All-Pro safety for the L.A. Rams.
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Cromwell
http://www.rockchalktalk.com/2014/9/9/6123429/know-your-ku-history-nolan-cromwell
State of Kansas HOF:
https://www.kshof.org/team/nolan-cromwell
Deceased
Darrow Hooper 86 (1932-Aug.19, 2018) 1951 NCAA Champion—Shot Put (Texas A&M/USC’s Parry O’Brien was 2nd);
1952 Olympic silver medalist, less than an inch behind gold medalist Parry O’Brien…had beaten O’Brien and
World Record holder Jim Fuchs at the Olympic Trials.
World-ranked 3-times (1951-6, 1952-3, 1953-3;
Played quarterback, halfback, tight end, and place kicker on the Aggie football team. Was drafted by the NY
Giants, but chose to pursue his career as a civil engineer.
Wiki Bio:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrow_Hooper
Olympic Stats: https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78567
Texas A&M HOF: https://12thman.com/honors/texas-am-athletic-hall-of-fame/c-darrow-hooper/115
Obituary:
