This Day In Running... March 4th

1995- Michael Johnson of the United States set the world record in the indoor 400 meters in Atlanta.  Michael's time was 44.63.  That time still ranks second all-time behind Kerron Clement, also of the United States, who beat Michael's record as a collegian in 2005.  Michael went on to win two gold medals and set two world records in the 200 and 400 at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.  His 400 record still stands and his 200 is #3 all time behind Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake of Jamaica.



1989- Javier Sotomayor of Cuba broke the indoor high jump world record set just one year earlier by one centimeter.  Javier's jump was 2.43 meters or 7'11 3/4".  Javier's career spanned 15 years from his World Junior Record in 1985 to his Olympic Silver in 2000.  He was among the best in the world for those years.

This Day in Track History- February 13th

1993- Merlene Ottey of Jamaica runs 21.87 seconds in the 200m to claim to World Indoor Record in France. Ottey, who competed collegiality for the University of Nebraska, also has the third fastest time ever in the 200m outdoors.  Ottey had a very long and successful sprint career.  She first went to the Olympics in 1980 and last competed there in 2000.  She won three silver and six bronze medals at the Olympics and added six golds and many more silver and bronze at the World Championships.

Ottey Competing in Athens for Slovenia

1988- Heike Dreschler of East Germany set the World Indoor Record in the Long Jump with a leap of 24 feet, 2.5 inches or 7.37 meters.  Dreschler also held the outdoor long jump record and tied the outdoor 200m world record as well.  Dreschler was always suspected of doping but she never failed a drug test in her whole career. Her career spanned the same time period as Ottey's, rising to prominence in the early 1980s and wrapping it up with a Gold in the Long Jump in Sydney.

Heike Dreschler