This Day in Track & Field History, March 24, 2024, Jack Torrance, Steve Prefontaine, Paul Geis, Cathy Branta, by Walt Murphy News and Results Service

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This Day in Observe & Discipline/X-Nation–March  24

1934–LSU’s Jack Torrance set an American Report of 53-6 (16.30m+) within the Shot Put, however the mark was by no means ratified as a World Report (unknown causes). He would set 3 official World Data later within the season, with a better of 57-1 (17.40).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Torrance_(athlete)

1973—Steve Prefontaine ran 27:09.4 at an all-comers meet in Bakersfield, California, to set an American Report for 6-miles. Pre acquired pacing assist from fellow Oregon Duck Paul Geis, who gained the concurrent 3-mile run in 13:24.2.

1973–American Wendy Koenig (Knudson) grew to become the primary lady to interrupt 60 seconds for the 400-meter hurdles, working 59.08 in Phoenix. She competed within the 800 meters on the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.

http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/77891

http://www.eptrail.com/ci_21156440/an-olympic-moment

http://www.eptrail.com/ci_31737312/special-thank-you-estes-park-wendy-koenig

1985—High-10 finishes from Cathy Branta (2nd-15:24) and Betty Springs (ninth) sparked the U.S. to its third straight Girls’s staff title on the World X-Nation Championships in Lisbon, Portugal. Others on the staff (4 scored): Shelly Steely (fifteenth), Kathy Hayes (sixteenth), Mary Knisely (twenty eighth), and Nan Doak (forty sixth).

Holding up their finish was a robust U.S.  staff of Bruce Bickford (tenth), Pat Porter (twelfth), Ed Eyestone (sixteenth), Craig Virgin (nineteenth), Mark Curp (fortieth), and Jeff Drenth (56th)  that gained the bronze medals within the Males’s race.  The person race featured at least 5 former champions, with hometown favourite Carlos Lopes (33:33), the gold medalist within the 1984 Olympic Marathon, profitable his 2nd straight title. Ethiopia’s Bekele Debele (1983/4th-33:45) completed 4th, adopted intently by Eire’s John Treacy (33:48), the 1978 and 1979 winner, and Virgin (34:12), one other 2-time winner (1980,1981), was nineteenth. Ethiopia’s Mohammed Kedir, the 1982 champion, didn’t end the race.

Barefoot Kipkemboi Kimeli (22:18) gained the Males’s Junior race to offer Kenya its first World Champion. The staff battle marked the primary Ethiopia (16)-Kenya (26) duel, which is now commonplace at these Championships. At 18 years and 302 days, Zola Budd (15:01) grew to become the youngest ever to win the Girls’s Senior race.

Different notable/U.S. finishers

Senior Males(12.19km): 2. Paul Kipkoech (KEN) 33:37, 3.Wodajo Bulti (ETH) 33:38, 11.Fernando Mamede (ETH), 20.Rob de Castella (AUS), 27.Gelindo Bordin (ITA), 36.Francisco Panetta (ITA), 37.Steve Jones (Wales), 42.John Robson (SCO), 89.Abel Antón (ESP), 102.Steve Moneghetti (AUS), 175.Neil Cusack (IRL); Group(6 rating):1.Ethiopia 129, 2.Kenya 141, 3.USA 153;

Senior Girls(4.99km):3.Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR), 4. Fiţa Lovin (ROU), 5.Cornelia Burki (SWI), 7.Olga Bondarenko (URS), 13.Rosa Mota (POR), 17.Annette Sergent (FRA), 27.Angela Chalmers (CAN), 30.Aurorra Cunha (POR), 42.Yvonne Murray (SCO), 56.Paula Fudge (ENG); Group: USA

Junior Males(8.19km):10.Brahim Boutayeb (MAR), 12.Jeff Cannada (USA), 15.Chuck Trujillo (USA), 23.Matt Giusto (USA), 45.Simon Gutierrez (USA), 48.Hank Lee (USA), 74.Joe Falcon (USA); Group:1.Ethiopia 16, 2.Kenya 26;

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePkEbMY2Ta0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_IAAF_World_Cross_Country_Championships