Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service (wmurphy25@aol.com)
This Day in Track & Field–February 16
1963–The 220-yard banked wooden track in Louisville’s Freedom Hall was THE venue for records in the 1960s and 1970s and this 3rd edition of the Mason Dixon Games went a long way in establishing that reputation. Long-striding Earl Young (55.5) won a thrilling 500-yards over Dave Mills (55.6), Ollan Cassell (55.6) and Willie Atterberry (55.6) as all four runners were under Charlie Jenkins’ previous World Record of 56.4.
World Records were also set in the mile- and 2-mile relays as Texas Southern ran 3:12.8 with a lineup of Lester Milburn (48.5), Artis Barrett (48.5), Charles White (48.0) and Ray Saddler (47.2), and Georgetown ran 7:29.0 with a foursome of Charlie McGovern (1:55.0), Ed Schmitt (1:54.0), Ed Duchini (1:50.0) and John Reilly (1:50.0).
A 4th mark was set by Bob Hayes, who ran 6.9 for 70-yards.
1961 Sports Illustrated Cover Story-Earl Young
1968–The NYAC Games could have been remembered for it being the 100th anniversary of the popular fixture on the NY indoor circuit, or as the first meet to be held at the new Madison Square Garden. Instead, the meet drew national attention because it was the focus of a black boycott that was organized by Harry Edwards, who was also trying to drum up support for an eventual Olympic boycott.
Some black athletes chose to compete, including members of a UTEP team that included Bob Beamon, who won the Long Jump, but the NYAC, reacting to the criticism of its restrictive membership policies at the time, decided that this would be the final year that they would sponsor the meet. (The NYAC has come a long way since then—Cedric Jones, an African-American, was the club’s Athletic Director from 2007-2021).
Villanova’s team unanimously voted not to compete at the meet
https://vault.si.com/vault/1968/02/26/boycott-nowboycott-later
UTEP Coach Wayne Vandenburg Sues Newsweek:
http://www.leagle.com/decision/19751531507F2d1024_11321.xml/VANDENBURG%20v.%20NEWSWEEK,%20INC
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10999949.2018.1543998
https://onceuponatimeinthevest.blogspot.com/2018/07/v-8-n-50-february-1968.html
Footnote: This was the only meet held at Madison Square Garden that I missed since I started attending meets in 1958. I’d like to say that I was on the frontline of the protest, but I actually chose to go on a skiing trip that weekend! (-:
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