This Day in Track & Field, July 27, 4x400m battle, USA vs. Jamaica (1952 Helsinki), Zatopek wins 5,000m, 10,000m, and Marathon (1952 Helsinki),

This Day in Track & Field–July  27  

1952–In a great battle on the final day of the Olympics in Helsinki, Jamaica edged the U.S. in the 4×400 relay as both teams (3:03.9-3:04.0) smashed the previous World Record of 3:08.2, which was set by a U.S. team at the 1932 Olympics.

Ollie Matson (46.7), who went on to have a great career in the NFL (see July 25), gave the U.S. a slight lead over Jamaica’s Arthur Wint (46.8), the 1948 Olympic 400 champion, on the opening leg. Gene Cole extended the U.S. lead with a great 45.5 split, while Les Laing kept Jamaica within striking distance with his 47-flat carry.

Jamaica’s Herb McKenley, hungry for gold after earlier winning silver medals in the 100 and 400, was 12-meters behind when he got the baton. No one thought he could maintain his early pace as he tore after Charlie Moore, the gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles. But McKenley never let up and passed Moore (46.3) in the last few strides, splitting an amazing 44.6. It was the first time in history that anyone had ever run one lap in under 45-seconds. Finishing 3^rd was Germany (3:06.6).

The anchor leg provided a classic matchup between Jamaica’s George Rhoden, the gold medalist in the 400,  and American Mal Whitfield, now a 2-time Olympic Champion at 800-meters, and the man who had anchored the U.S. to Olympic victory in this event 4 years earlier in London. The two gave the crowd a thrill, going stride-for-stride for the entire 400-meters, with Rhoden just barely holding off Whitfield, with both splitting 45.5.

Ironically, the Jamaican team was coached by an American–Hall-of-Famer Joe Yancey, the creator and coach of the New York Pioneer Club!  There was a lot of local bitterness when the Joe Yancey Track at Macombs Dam Park was torn up to make room for the new Yankee Stadium. However, its replacement, which is right across the street from the new Stadium, has gone a long way to erase any lasting resentment. (See NY Times link below).

    http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=11685

The U.S. won the Men’s 4×100 relay (40.1) in Helsinki  with a lineup that included three familiar runners who had already won gold medals in other events. Handling the last three legs were  Harrison Dillard (110-hurdles), Lindy Remigino (100), and Andy Stanfield (200). Leading off was Dean Smith, who would later become famous in other activities. Smith, the 1952 U.S. Champion in the 100 (and 4th in that 100…