This Day in Track & Field, September 2, Dave Wottle upsets in Munich 800 meters (1972), written, compiled and edited by Walt Murphy

Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service  ([email protected])

This Day in Track & Field–September 2    

1901–John Flanagan set a pre-IAAF World Record of 171-9 (52.35) in the Hammer Throw at NY’s Celtic Park. Flanagan was a 3-time Olympic champion in the event (1900-1904-1908)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Flanagan_(hammer_thrower)

http://www.wingedfist.org/John_Flanagan_Hercules.html

1960–The graceful Wilma Rudolph won the first of her three gold medals at the Rome Olympics, taking the Women’s 100 in 11.0w. She equaled the world record of 11.3 in her semi-final race. Winning silver and bronze were Great Britain’s Dorothy Hyman (11.3w) and Italy’s Giuseppina Leone (11.3w).

Ralph Boston set an Olympic Record of 26-7  ¾ (8.12) in the 3rd round of the Men’s Long Jump, but almost had the gold medal “stolen” by U.S. teammate Bo Roberson, who jumped 26-7  ¼ (8.11) on his final attempt. Soviet Igor Ter-Ovanesyan won the bronze medal with a leap of 26-4  ½ (8.04). Boston would eventually wind up with a complete set of Olympic medals, taking the silver in 1964 and the bronze in 1968.

Unheralded Peter Snell, wearing New Zealand’s all-black uniform, won the Men’s 800 in 1:46.3. 5th with 200-meters to go, Snell hugged the rail around the final turn, then took advantage of an opening as Belgium’s Roger Moens, the World Record holder in the event, veered out to lane 3 in the final 50 meters. Jamaica’s George Kerr (1:47.1), the NCAA Champion (Illinois), finished 3^rd.

Snell’s teammate,  Murray Halberg (13:43.4), won the 5000-Meters over East Germany’s Hans Grodotzki (13:44.6) and 3^rd was Poland’s Kazimierz Zimny (13:44.8). Halberg, who had built a lead of 20-meters with a spurt almost 4000-meters into the race, lost most of that cushion, but was able to hold on for the win.

The U.S. got a sweep of the medals in the 400-hurdles from Glenn Davis (49.3), the defending champion, Cliff Cushman (49.6), and Dick Howard (49.7).  They were presented their medals by Lord David Burghley, the 1928 Olympic Champion in the event! Cushman,  a Major in the U.S. Air Force,  was killed in action during the Vietnam War in 1966.

The other Press sister, Tamara (Irina won the 80-hurdles the day before), set an Olympic Record of 56-10 (17.32) to win the Women’s Shot Put. East Germany’s Johanna Lüttge (54-6 [16.61]) won the silver medal, and Earlene Brown won the bronze with a…