Walt Murphy is one of the finest track statisticians 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.
1935–It was later referred to as the “Mile of the Century”, a matchup at the 2nd Princeton Invitation of the last two World Record holders in the Mile, New Zealand’s Jack Lovelock and American Glenn Cunningham (who had set the current mark of 4:06.7 at this meet in 1934), and Bill Bonthron, the world record holder in the 1500-meters.
35,000 fans packed Palmer Stadium as Lovelock, who would win the gold medal in the 1500-meters at the following year’s Olympics in Berlin, won the tactical race handily in 4:11.2. Bonthron trailed by 10 yards, just ahead of Cunningham.
Lovelock said after the race, “Cunningham’s tactics and uneven pacing were disturbing, as Bonthron might catch us both from behind . . . I took two very cautious peeps at (Bonthron), swung out a fraction, and using the wind as best I could, let fly with my sprint.”
Lovelock’s Diary: https://thediaryjunction.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-let-fly-with-my-sprint.html
http://tinyurl.com/LovelockPrinceton
1935—USC teammates Roy Staley and Phil Cope finished in a dead heat in the 120-yard hurdles in a dual-meet against Ohio State, with both equaling the World Record of 14.2.
1956–Parry O’Brien raised his World Record in the Shot Put to 61-4 (18.69) at the U.S. Armed Forces Championships in Los Angeles.
After a dramatic intro by the host, listen to O’Brien talk about his event and some of the highlights of his career in this wonderful recording from “The Greatest Sports Thrills” radio show that was sponsored by the United States Air Force. (O’Brien was a lieutenant in the Air Force). http://www.otrcat.com/greatest-sports-thrill-p-49515.html
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression
1957–-Occidental’s Bob Gutowski, using an aluminum pole, thought he had broken his own World Record (15-8 ¼ [4.78]) in the Pole Vault when he cleared…
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