Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
This Day in Track & Field–September 11
1956—Competing in front of 100,000 spectators, who were in Moscow’s Lenin Stadium for a political meeting, Vladimir Kuts made good on a record attempt in the 10,000-meters, running 28:30.4 to better the previous mark of 28:42.8, which was set two months earlier by Hungary’s Sándor Iharos. Ironically, Iharos had regained the World Record for 5000-meters from Kuts (for the 2nd time) in 1955.
A distant 2nd in the race was fellow Soviet Pyotr Bolotnikov (29:37.0), who would take the record away from Kuts four years later with his clocking of 28:18.8. Kuts would win Olympic gold in the 5000 and 10,000 later in the year in Melbourne, Australia.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_10,000_metres_world_record_progression
Racing Past: http://www.racingpast.ca/john_contents.php?id=121
1968—Geoff Vanderstock won the 400-meter hurdles in 48.8 (auto-48.94) at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Echo Summit to break Rex Cawley’s 4-year old World record of 49.1, which had been set at the 1964 U.S. Trials in L.A. Also making the team were Boyd Gittens (49.1/49.27) and Ron Whitney (49.2/49.36).
Gittens had led going into the far turn, but was caught by Vanderstock as the runners emerged from behind the huge trees on the infield.
Hugging the rail as usual, Tom Farrell (1:46.5), who was last after the first 400, won the 800 to make his 2nd Olympic team. Wade Bell (1:47.1) was a clear 2nd, while Ron Kutschinski (1:47.8) won the battle for the 3rd spot on the team over 18-year old Mark Winzenried (1:47.9). Farrell went on to win Olympic bronze in Mexico City.
World Record holder Jay Silvester (207-6 [63.25]) won the Discus, with Gary Carlsen (205-2 [62.54]) placing 2nd. Keeping his record of never having won at the U.S. Trials intact, Al Oerter (204-8 [62.39]) finished 3rd to set the stage for winning his historic 4th gold medal in Mexico City.
The Track in the Forest:
https://www.amazon.com/Track-Forest-Creation-Legendary-Olympic/dp/0897339371
https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/track-in-the-forest–the-products-9780897339377.php
Results: https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1968.pdf
History of the Trials
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