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.
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By Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission.
This Day in Track & Field–April 21
1934–Stanford’s John Lyman, who finished 4th at the 1932 U.S. Olympic Trials, set a World Record in the Shot Put with his throw of 54-1 (16.48m) in Palo Alto.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lyman_(athlete)
1975(updated)–Not universally known yet as Bill, “Will” Rodgers, as his name was reported in the Boston Globe, won the first of his four Boston Marathon titles, running 2:09:55 to set an American Record. West Germany’s Liane Winter set a World Record of 2:42:24 in the Women’s division. The record setters were helped by a strong tailwind.
Less than two weeks earlier, Rodgers received a letter from Steve Prefontaine. Pre congratulated Bill for his bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Rabat, Morocco, in March of ’75. He also sent Bill a pair of training shoes and a pair of “Boston ’73” racing shoes. He said he had heard from Jeff Galloway, Bill’s college teammate at Wesleyan, that he wanted to try “our” shoes. Long before Nike became a corporate giant, it seems that Bill Bowerman, the legendary University of Oregon coach, and possibly Pre himself, were making shoes at Bowerman’s house. They were interested in the reaction of the top athletes to their shoes. Bill was one of these athletes. (The shoes were a bit large, and he would have to stop and tie them up for better support!).
Read more at: https://yhst-38716594749934.store.turbify.net/letterfrompre.html
Other notable finishers
Men: 3. Tom Fleming 2:12:05…5.Ron Hill (GBR) 2:13:28
Women: 2.Kathrine Switzer 2:51:37
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