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.
by Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com), used with permission
Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
This Day in Track & Field–November 6
1883—The NYAC organizes the 1st American cross-country championship race. Thomas Delaney (26:30) won over the 4.25-mile course in New York City.
From the NY Times:
The spectators were numerous. As the course lay for some distance along the King’s Bridge road, many were present in carriages, and several horseback parties of ladies and gentlemen followed the runners.
After the race, the tired runners were fed sandwiches and clam chowder and returned to the city. One of them, whose name is withheld for the sake of his relatives, lost his trousers during the race and came home covered with confusion and a horse blanket.
NY Times Archives (For Subscribers?): https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1883/11/07/103441549.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Cross_Country_Championships
1909—George Bonhag set an American Record of 31:05.2 for 6 miles at Celtic Park in NY City.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bonhag
TCS NY City Marathon
1988—Great Britain’s Steve Jones, a native of Wales, was the Men’s winner in 2:08:20, the 2nd fastest time ever on the course (at the time). His 3:21 margin of victory over Italy’s Salvatore Bettiol (2:11:41) is still the largest in the 5-boro event’s history. 3rd was Ireland’s John Treacy (2:13:18). Norway’s Grete Waitz (2:28:07), coming back from an injury-plagued 1987 season, won her record 9th (and final) women’s title. 2nd and 3rd were Italy’s Laura Fogli (2:31:26) and American Joan Benoit Samuelson (2:32:40), the 1984 Olympic champion.
Waitz finished 2nd to Benoit-Samuelson at the 1984 Olympics but didn’t view her win here as “revenge.” “The Olympics are special because they happen every fourth year,” she said. “You can’t have the Olympics all over again. Los Angeles was a completely different race. So many things have happened to Joanie, and so many things have happened to me. When I…
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