This Days in Track & Field History, April 22, 2024, Randy Matson sets Shot Put WR (1967), Deby LaPlant sets 100m hurdle AR (1979), Ryan Hall runs fastest US marathon debut (2007), by Walt Murphy News and Results Services

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By Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission.

This Day in Track & Field-April 22

1967–Texas A&M’s Randy Matson bettered his own World Record in the Shot Put with his throw of 71-5 ½ (21.78) in College Station, Texas (Still #10 All-Time College/indoor-outdoor).

1979—Deby LaPlante ran 13.10 at the Mt.SAC Relays to set an American Record in the 100-meter hurdles. LaPlante won two indoor (’76,’78) and two outdoor (’78,’79) U.S. titles.

1988—Jud Logan set the 9^th (and final) American Record of his career with a throw of 268-8 (81.88) at Penn State. He passed away early in 2022 after a long run as the coach at Ashland University.

2007—Finishing 7^th at the London Marathon, Ryan Hall ran 2:08:24, the fastest U.S. debut performance ever in the event. The previous best of 2:09:41 was jointly held by Alberto Salazar (1980) and Alan Culpepper (1992). The winner of the race was Kenya’s Martin Lel (2:07:41).

Among the men dropping out in the warm conditions were some of the biggest names in marathoning—2004 Olympic medalists Stefano Baldini (Gold/Italy) and Meb Keflezighi (Silver/USA), former World Record holder Khalid Khannouchi, and Haile Gebrselassie (ETH). World Record holder Paul Tergat (KEN) could only manage a 6^th-place finish.

The winner of the Women’s race was China’s Chunxiu Zhou (2:20:38).

http://www.marathonguide.com/news/exclusives/LondonMarathon_2007/LondonMarathon2007PostRace.cfm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_London_Marathon

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgpnUgz__6Q