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
This Day in Track & Field-December 26
2002—A car driven by Michelle Freeman, the 1997 World Indoor Champion in the 60-meter hurdles, overtuned on a road
in Florida, resulting in the death of Freeman’s mother and Ilrey Oliver-Sparks, a former University of Tennessee
runner who was an academic counselor for the Longhorns. Seriously injured was Texas women’s coach Bev
Kearney, who was confined to a wheelchair for a few years after the accident (see link). She reached a
settlement with the University of Texas in June, 2018, over an unrelated discrimination lawsuit.
https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/michelle-freeman-devastation-and-tragedy-bu
Recovery(Kearney): https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/you-learn-that-the-impossible-is-possible-say
Significant Birthdays
Born On This Day
Yohan Blake-Jamaica 35 (1989) 2011 World Champion—100m (After training partner Usain Bolt false-started), 4×100
2-time Olympic gold medalist–4×100 (2012, 2016)
2-time Olympic silver medalist—100,200 (2012)
4th in the 200 at the 2016 Olympics and 2017 World Championships
5th in the 100 at the 2019 World Championships
Anchored the Jamaican 4×200 team that set a World Record of 1:18.63 in 2014
(Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown, Blake)
Held back by injuries from 2013-2015
Ran 10.11 for 100-meters in 2007 at the age of 17
Played a key role in one of the greatest races in Penn Relays history in 2007. After anchoring St.Jago to a win in
the H.S. Boys 4×100, he fell just short of catching Long Beach Poly(CA)’s Bryshon Nellum on the thrilling
anchor leg of the 4×400 (45.4 split for both).
PBs: 6.45i (2023), 9.69 (2012/=#2 All-Time), 19.26 (2011/#2 All-Time), 46.32 (2013); 2024 SB:10.16
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