by Larry Eder
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
This Day in Track & Field–February 26
1966–Kansas freshman Jim Ryun, 2-months shy of his 19th birthday, set an American Junior Indoor Record of 3:59.6 in the mile in Kansas City.
1971—Frank Shorter won the 3-mile at the U.S. Indoor Championships at NY’s Madison Square Garden in 13:10.6, just missing George Young’s World Indoor Record of 13:09.8. Shorter thought he could break the record, but the deep breaths didn’t come on the last lap, saying “I just couldn’t dig down enough. The smoke was getting to me on the last two laps.” (The Garden hadn’t yet banned smoking in the arena).
Finishing 5th in 13:37.0 was prep Dave Merrick (Lincoln Way-New Lenox,IL), who broke Gerry Lindgren’s U.S. High School Record of 13:37.8 (1964).
Merrick: https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2466555
1977—Clancy Devery, a Junior at South Salem (OR), set a U.S. High School Record of 2:23:05 at the Trail’s End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon.
https://runningnewmexico.podbean.com/e/episode-49-clancy-devery/
1982–Eveyln Ashford set a World Record of 6.54 in the 60-yard dash at the U.S. Indoor Championships in Madison Square Garden.
Joan Hansen (9:37.03), Brenda Webb (9:37.64), and Margaret Groos (9:37.65) all broke Francie Larrieu’s previous World Record in the Women’s 2-mile (9:38.1). Larrieu, the early pace-setter, finished 4th in 9:44.85.
Carl Lewis, having to start his runup on the banked track after discovering the usual Garden runway was short, won the Men’s Long Jump with a leap of 28-3/4 (8.55), falling just one centimeter short of matching his 7-week old World Record!
Lewis had been declared ineligible at Houston after failing a history course, but didn’t seem to mind. “I don’t have the burden of extra team meets and multiple events,” he said at the time. “I love it!”
The “winner” of the Women’s Long Jump, which was held in the morning before maybe 100 spectators, was unheralded Veronica Bell, a junior at Cal Poly Pomona. With a previous best of 20-6 ½ (6.26/outdoors), Bell was credited with a jump of 21-11 ¾ (6.70) in the first round, ostensibly breaking Martha Watson’s 9-year old American Indoor Record of 21-4 ¾ (6.52). However, it’s more than likely that officials mis-read the metric reading on the measuring tape! (Bell’s mark was never ratified as an American Record) See SI’s coverage for more details.
Sports Illustrated Vault: https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/03/08/a-meeting-of-the-brilliant-and-the-bizarre
1983—Arkansas ran 7:19.92 in the 4×800 relay at the Razorback Inv. in Fayetteville, breaking Eastern Michigan’s
2-day old Collegiate Record of 7:21.22.
(Ed Williams 1:50.8, Tom Moloney 1:49.7, David Swain 1:50.4, Frank O’Mara 1:49.0)
1988–Germany’s Carlo Thränhardt cleared 7-11 ¼ (2.42) in Berlin to break Patrik Sjöberg’s World Record in the high jump(7-10 3/4, 2.41).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_high_jump_world_record_progression
1993–At a time when international athletes could compete at the U.S. Indoor Nationals, Algeria’s Noureddine Morceli beat Ireland’s Marcus O’Sullivan to win the Men’s Mile in New York, 3:54.59 to 3:54.90. Steve Holman finished 3rd in 3:55.41 to claim the U.S. title. 40-year old Eamonn Coghlan fell short of his goal of breaking 4-minutes, but still set a Masters Record of 4:01.39.
Gail Devers set an American Record of 6.99 in the Women’s 60-Meters
This would be the last year the Championships would be held at NY’s Madison Square Garden, which had been the meet’s home for most of its long existence.
NY Times Coverage:
http://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/27/sports/track-field-vroom-that-was-devers-whipping-by.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/09/sports/track-field-indoor-championships-to-leave-the-garden.html
U.S. Indoor Championships Venues(From 1958 on): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Track_%26_Field_Indoor_Championships
2000—37-year old Chris Clark was the surprise winner at the U.S. Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials on a warm day in Columbia, SC. Her winning time of 2:33:31 met the “B” qualifying standard (2:45:00) for the Olympics, but was short of the “A” standard of 2:33:00, meaning that she would be the only American woman competing in Sydney. Getting shutout were runnerup Kristy Johnson and 8th-placer Libbie Hickman, the top two finishers who had previously met the “A” standard.
“To be honest the qualifying standard was on my mind,” Clark said. “I knew the 2:33 was huge. If there is any way I could have gone under it, I would have. I feel bad that I am the only one going to the Olympics.”
From the article linked below:
“The win was so shocking for so many reasons, it’s hard to know where to start. But the treadmill is as good a place as any. Day after day, mile after mile, Clark ran in place in her Anchorage home to prepare for the race.
The trials were in late February in South Carolina, and so to acclimate herself to heat— and because it’s cold, dark and icy that time of year in Alaska — Clark cranked up the thermostat and ran on a treadmill. That’s like a skier training for the Olympics on a NordicTrack.
All the while, she was raising a family and working — she was a mom to two boys under the age of 10 and a pathologist who worked three days a week at the hospital.”
Clark went on to finish 19th in the Olympic Marathon with a personal best time of 2:31:35.
https://alaskasportshall.org/inductee/chris-clarks-olympic-trial-victory/
https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2020/03/06/chris-clark-olympic-marathon-qualifier
Results: http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?RL=1&MIDD=1014000226&Gen=F&Begin=1&End=100&Max=141
2005–Yelena Isinbaeva cleared 16-1/2 (4.89) in Liévin, France, to break her 8-day old World Record in the Pole Vault.
2005–Faquier(VA) senior Sarah Bowman (later Brown) set a National High School Record in the 1000-meters, running 2:43.40 at Virginia Tech (now #2-H.S.).
2009–Meseret Defar ran 9:06.26 in Prague to break her year-old World Record for 2-miles (9:10.50).
IAAF Report: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/defar-runs-90626-two-miles-world-best-in-prag
2012— Chaunté Lowe set the current American Indoor Record of 6-7 ½ (2.02) to win the High Jump at the U.S. Indoor Championships in Albuquerque. Lowe’s performance, which came on her 3rd attempt, earned the mother of two $25,000 as the winner of the VISA Championship.
IAAF Report: https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/lowe-improves-us-record-to-202m-four-world-le
Other Videos: http://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=45365&mgroup_event_id=25&do=videos&folder_id=recent&year=2012
2017—Oregon senior Edward Cheserek flew cross-country to take dead-aim on the Collegiate Record for the Mile. Running on Boston University’s track, the popular site of choice for many record attempts or just fast times, Cheserek made the trip worthwhile by running 3:52.01 to break the 3-year old mark of 3:52.88, set by Arizona’s Lawi Lalang in 2014. He also got credit for a CR for 1500-meters for his en-route time of 3:37.01.
This wasn’t a solo effort, with Kyle Merber finishing a close 2nd to King Ches with a personal best time of 3:52.22 (#9 All-Time U.S. (at the time), followed by Johnny Gregorek (3:53.15), and Ford Palmer (3:54.92), who also ran personal bests.
The Men’s 5000 was also hot, with Canada’s Moh Ahmed (13:04.60/Nat’l Record), Eric Jenkins (13:05.85/#2 All-Time U.S.), Ben True (13:06.74/#3 U.S.), Ryan Hill (13:07.61/#6 U.S.), and Woody Kincaid (13:12.22/#9 U.S.) all running personal bests. (U.S. placings at the time)
Best women’s race of the day was the 5000, with Molly Huddle (15:01.64/#5 All-Time U.S. performance at the time) edging Emily Sisson (15:02.10/#5 All-Time U.S.).
Cheserek returned to BU in 2018 and ran 3:49.44, the 2nd fastest mile ever run indoors (at the time). This time, he was the only finisher in a set-up race.
Video(For FloTrack Subscribers): https://www.flotrack.org/video/5751916
Post-Race Interview:
Results
Men: http://lancertiming.com/results/winter17/lastchancem.htm
Women: http://lancertiming.com/results/winter17/lastchancew.htm
2022—Kentucky senior Abby Steiner ran 22.09 for 200-Meters at the SEC Championships in College Station, Texas, smashing not only her own Collegiate Indoor Record of 22.37, but also Gwen Torrence’s 26-year old American Record of 22.33. Her time was 2nd on the all-time list only to the World Record of 21.87 that was set by Jamaica’s Merlene Ottey in 1993 (now #3). Even Steiner, who had earlier finished 3rd in the 60, was stunned when she saw her time on the infield clock. She would go on to win NCAA (indoor/outdoor) & U.S. (outdoor) titles in the 200 and would win gold medals in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays at the World Championships in Eugene!
The meet ended with a sensational 4×400 Relay that saw Arkansas (3:24.09), Texas A&M (3:25.43), and Kentucky (3:25.89) all run faster than the Collegiate Indoor Record of 3:26.27 that was set by an Athing Mu-anchored Texas A&M team in 2021.
200 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSyeADbK9Gw
Results: https://results.flashresults.com/2022_02-25_SEC/index.htm
2022–Juliette Whittaker (Mt de Sales, Catonsville, Md) ran 2:39.41 at the Ocean Breeze H.S. Invitational , breaking the U.S. High School Record of 2:40.72 that was set by Sammy Watson (Rush- Henrietta, Henrietta, NY) in 2017,
Significant Birthdays
Born On This Day*
Trevor Bassitt 27 (1998) Bronze medalist in the 400m-Hurdles at the 2022 World Championships…6th in 2023
3rd at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, semi-finalist at the Paris Olympics; 8th at the 2021 Trials
2-time World Champion—4×400 (2022, 2023/1sr round both times)
2021 U.S. Indoor Champion—400m
Silver medalist in the 400 at the 2022 World Indoor Championships and in the 4×400 in 2024
Won 5 NCAA Div.II titles while at Ashland University…helped the Eagles win the 2019 team title
2019 & 2022 400m Hurdles
2021 & 2022 Indoors—60m Hurdles
2022 Indoors–400m
PBs: 20.48i (2021), 20.52 (2021), 45.05i (2022), 45.53 (2023), 7.67i (2021), 13.55 (2021), 47.38 (2023)
2024 SBs: 45.84, 47.82; 2025 SB: 45.67i
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Bassitt
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/trevor-bassitt-14719193
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfzIsU8vyh0
Rojé Stona-Jamaica 26 (1999) 2024 Olympic gold medalist—Discus…set an Olympic Record of 229-8 in the final
All-American at Arkansas & Clemson—NCAA: 2024i-Shot Put (2nd), 2021 (2nd) & 2023-Discus (2nd)
Competed for Clemson through 2022
2017 Penn Relays H.S. Champion–Discus
PBs: 67-2 1/4i (20.48/2024), 229-8 (70.00/2024)
Coached by Ryan Crouser!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roj%C3%A9_Stona
https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/roje-stona/
Clayton Murphy 30 (1995) 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the 800-meters—ran 1:42.93, making him the 3rd-
fastest American ever in the event (now #5); 9th at the 2021 Olympics; 7th at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
2015 Pan-American Games Champion—800m;
3-time U.S. Champion-800m (2016-O.T., 2018, 2021-O.T.)
3-time U.S. Indoor Champion-1000m (2017, 2019, 2020); 2017 U.S. Road Mile Champion
2-time NCAA Champion (Akron)—2016 (800-indoors, 1500-outdoors)
Semi-finalist 2015 World Championships (replaced Nick Symmonds)
2017 season was cut short after suffering a hamstring injury in the final of the 1500-meters at the U.S.
Outdoor Championships (finished last). Withdrew from the 800 final. Had hoped to win both events.
3rd at the 2023 U.S. Championships, eliminated in the first round at the World Championships in Budapest
Cut his ties with Akron after the school dropped Men’s X-Country in 2020
Married sprinter Ari Washington on December 7, 2019…couple’s first child, son Chase Early, was born on October 2,
2023
PBs: 1:42.93 (‘16/#5 All-Time U.S.), 1:45.92i (‘19);, 2:15.73 (’22/#4 A-T U.S.), 3:36.23 (‘16), 3:51.99 (‘17),
3:53.30i (‘19); 2024 SB: 1:44.80
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Murphy
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/clayton-murphy-14536714
2016 OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqF69nFLlwg
https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/4512808/Akron/Clayton_Murphy.html
www.runnersworld.com/world-championships/college-student-is-nick-symmonds-world-champs-replacement
Wedding: https://www.munaluchibridal.com/glamorous-black-and-white-wedding-in-napa-valley-ca/
Keeping the Murphy Name Alive(no relation!):
www.runblogrun.com/2015/08/beijing-stories-the-clayton-murphy-story-by-elliott-denman.html
I Just Became a Dad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3UoeURi9u0
Sanya Richards-Ross Jamaica/USA(2002) 40 (1985) 2012 Olympic gold medalist—400m; 3-time Olympic gold
medalist—4×400 (’04,’08,’12)
5-time World Champion—400 (’09), 4×400 (’03, ’07, ’09, ’11)
2013 World Indoor Champion—400m;
Set the current American Record of 48.70 in 2006
6-time U.S. Champion (’03, ’05, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’12);
2003 NCAA Champion—400m, 4×400 (Texas); 2004 NCAA Indoor Champion—400m, 4×400 (& 2003-4×400)
2002 U.S. Junior Champion—200, 400
Retired after the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials (Pulled up in her heat of the 400)
PBs: 22.09 (‘12), 22.49i (‘04/=#10 College), 48.70 (‘06/AR/#9 A-T World), 50.71i (’12);
49.89 (2004/#5 A-T World Junior/Under-20, #2 U.S.)
High School PBs (St.Thomas Aquinas,FL):
23.22i (2002/=#7 A-T/HSR at the time), 50.69 (2002/HSR), 52.10i (#3 A-T/HSR at the time)
Currently a member of NBC’s broadcasting crew. Also a former member of the cast of “The Real Housewives of
Atlanta”
Married on this day in 2010 to another former Texas Longhorn, Aaron Ross, a 2-time Super Bowl Champion as
a cornerback for the NY Giants. Son Aaron Jermaine II (aka “Deuce”), the couple’s first child, was born on August
12, 2017. 2nd son (Asani) was born on December 19, 2023
Couple appeared on Shark Tank in December, 2024, to make a pitch for their company Coordinates and came away
with a deal with Robert Hravec!
https://sharktankrecap.com/coordinates-update-shark-tank-season-16/
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/105045
OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW7BTHm5O58
http://www.sanyarichardsross.com/ WIki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanya_Richards-Ross
Wedding: https://www.essence.com/love/weddings/bridal-bliss-sanya-richards-and-aaron-ross/#296344
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/fashion/weddings/07VOWS.html
https://www.instagram.com/sanyarichiross/?hl=en
He’s Here!: https://people.com/sanya-richards-ross-welcomes-her-second-baby-with-husband-aaron-ross-8407544
https://people.com/sanya-richards-ross-celebrates-her-first-christmas-as-a-mom-of-two-8364616
http://madamenoire.com/839865/sanya-richards-ross-son-aaron-jermaine/
