This Day in Track & Field, August 10, Bruce Jenner sets his first world record (1975) in the decathlon, by Walt Murphy

This Day in Track & Field—August 10 

1975–Bruce Jenner got the first world record of his career, scoring 8,524 points (8429-current tables) in Eugene at the USA-Soviet-Poland triangular meet. Fred Dixon was 2^nd (8277/8132) and 3rd was Ukraine’s Nikolay Avilov (8211/8121), who held the previous record of 8,456 (8466).

WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decathlon_world_record_progression

http://espn.go.com/classic/s/add_jenner_bruce.html

1983–It was “Wonderful Wednesday” at the inaugural  World Championships in Helsinki.

Carl Lewis won his 3rd gold medal of the Championships as he anchored the U.S. to a World Record win in the Men’s 4×100 (37.86). Preceding Lewis were Emmit King, Willie Gault, and Calvin Smith, who would later win the gold medal in the 200.  Finishing 2-3 in the relay were Italy (38.37) and the Soviet Union (38.41).

It was a busy day for Lewis, who first anchored the U.S. 4×100 team to victory in its heat, then, not too long after, got his winning mark in the Long Jump in the first round (28-3/4 [8.55]) before running in the final of the 4×100. It was a sweep in the Long Jump for the U.S. with Jason Grimes taking the silver (27-2  ½ [8.29]) and Mike Conley the bronze (26-7  ¾ [8.12]).

Mary Decker, leading from the start,  fought off a mighty challenge from Soviet Tatyana Kazankina down the homestretch to win the Women’s 3000-meters in 8:34.62. Kazankina (8:35.13), who stumbled to the track in her desperate bid for victory, was passed by West Germany’s Brigitte Kraus (8:35.11) right before the finish line.

Czech Jarmila Kratochvílová, already the World Record holder in the Women’s 800-meters, set another global record in the 400-meters with her winning time of 47.99. Kratochvílová had won the 800 the previous day less than 35 minutes after winning her semi-final in the 400. Finishing 2nd was her teammate, Tatána Kocembová (48.59), and 3rd was the Soviet Union’s Mariya Pinigina (49.19).

Jamaica’s Bert Cameron (45.05) won the Men’s 400 over Americans Michael Franks (45.22) and Sunder Nix (45.24).

The Soviet Union’s Yekaterina Grun (54.14) edged teammate Anna Ambraziené (54.15) to win the gold medal in the Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles. Winning the bronze was East Germany’s Ellen Fiedler (54.55).

Germany’s Martina Hellmann (226-2 [68.94]) won the Women’s Discus over the Soviet Union’s Galina Murashova (221-3 [67.44]) and Bulgaria’s…