Colonel William A. Phillips

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The men's 1972 United States Olympic trials for track and field were held from June 29 to July 9 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon,[1] organized by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). These were the first trials with no preliminary events; athletes merely had to meet the qualification standard in their event. This was also the last time the women's Olympic trials were held separately, and the ten-day competition in Eugene was held over eleven days.[2][3]

The women's trials were held separately over two days (July 7–8) in Frederick, Maryland,[4] under less elegant conditions at Governor Thomas Johnson High School. There were no wind readings taken during the events that normally require them; while photo-finish equipment was available in Eugene to separate close finishes, it was not available when needed in Frederick. As a consequence, the women's 100 meter race had to declare a tie for second place and was only able to assess one hand time for the winner. Willye White, who qualified for her fifth Olympics at this meet, later complained that "We did poorly at the Olympics because of poor conditions; lack of meets, lack of qualified coaches, and lack of fairness. For example, the nationals and Olympic trials were conducted on tracks that were not superior, and the team was not in Munich early enough to adjust to the climate and time changes."[5]

The pentathlon took place in New Mexico at Los Alamos on June 23 and 24 and allowed two Canadian athletes to participate. The Canadian athletes finished in the first two positions but did not displace the selection of the American team.

Men's results

Key: ≠ Athlete without "A" standard, not selected.

Men track events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
100 meters
Wind +0.9 		Eddie Hart 9.9 =WR Rey Robinson 9.9 =WR Robert Taylor 10.0
200 meters
Wind -0.5 		Chuck Smith 20.4 Larry Burton 20.5 Larry Black 20.6
400 meters Wayne Collett 44.1 John Smith 44.3 Vince Matthews 44.9
800 meters Dave Wottle 1:44.3 =WR Rick Wohlhuter 1:45.0 Ken Swenson 1:45.1
1500 meters Jim Ryun 3:41.5 Dave Wottle 3:42.3 Bob Wheeler 3:42.4
5000 meters Steve Prefontaine 13:22.8 NR George Young 13:29.4 Len Hilton 13.40.2
10,000 meters Frank Shorter 28:35.6 Jeff Galloway 28:48.8 Jon Anderson 29:08.2
110 m hurdles
Wind +2.1 		Thomas Hill 13.5w Willie Davenport 13.5w Rod Milburn 13.6w
400 m hurdles Ralph Mann 48.4 NR Dick Bruggeman 48.6 Jim Seymour 49.3
3000 m s'chase Mike Manley 8.29.8 Doug Brown 8.31.8 Steve Savage 8.32.0
20K racewalk Larry Young 1:35:56.4 Goetz Klopfer 1:37:53.4 Tom Dooley 1:38:03
50K racewalk Larry Young 4:13:04.4 NR Bill Weigle 4:20:09.4 Steve Hayden 4:23:22.6
Marathon Kenny Moore 2:15:57.8 Frank Shorter 2:15:57.8 Jack Bacheler 2:20:29.2

Source:[6]

Men field events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
High jump Dwight Stones 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) Ronnie Jourdan 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) Chris Dunn 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)
Pole vault Bob Seagren 5.63 m (18 ft 5+1⁄2 in) WR Steve Smith 5.50 m (18 ft 1⁄2 in) Jan Johnson 5.50 m (18 ft 1⁄2 in)
Long jump Arnie Robinson 8.04 m (26 ft 4+1⁄2 in)w +1.0 Randy Williams 8.02 m (26 ft 3+1⁄2 in)w +0.1 Preston Carrington 8.02 m (26 ft 3+1⁄2 in)w +0.8
Triple jump John Craft 17.12 m (56 ft 2 in)w +2.4 Dave Smith 17.07 m (56 ft 0 in) +0.3 NR Art Walker 16.79 m (55 ft 1 in)w +2.6
Shot put George Woods 21.37 m (70 ft 1+1⁄4 in) Al Feuerbach 20.99 m (68 ft 10+1⁄4 in) Brian Oldfield 20.69 m (67 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Discus throw Jay Silvester 64.36 m (211 ft 1 in) John Powell 62.74 m (205 ft 10 in) Tim Vollmer 61.56 m (201 ft 11 in)
Hammer throw Tom Gage 70.08 m (229 ft 11 in) Al Schoterman 68.70 m (225 ft 4 in) George Frenn 68.46 m (224 ft 7 in)
Javelin throw Bill Schmidt 82.46 m (270 ft 6 in) Milt Sonsky 81.66 m (267 ft 10 in) Fred Luke 81.62 m (267 ft 9 in)
Decathlon Jeff Bannister 8120 Jeff Bennett 8076 Bruce Jenner 7846

Source:[6]

Notes

a

Women's results

Women track events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
100 meters
Wind NWI 		Barbara Ferrell 11.3 Iris Davis
Mattline Render		 NT
NT
200 meters
Wind NWI 		Jackie Thompson 23.4 Barbara Ferrell 23.4 Pam Greene 23.7
400 meters Kathy Hammond 51.8 NR Debra Edwards 53.3 Mable Fergerson 53.3
800 meters Madeline Manning-Jackson 2:05.2 Cheryl Toussaint 2:05.7 Carol Hudson 2:06.0
1500 meters Francie Larrieu 4:10.4 NR Francie Johnson 4:15.2 Doris Brown 4:18.5
100 m hurdles
Wind NWI 		Patty Johnson 13.0 NR Lacy O'Neal 13.3 Mamie Rallins 13.4

Women field events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
High jump Deanne Wilson 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄4 in) Sandi Goldsberry 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄4 in) Cindy Gilbert 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄4 in)
Long jump Martha Watson 6.14 m (20 ft 1+1⁄2 in) Willye White 6.13 m (20 ft 1+1⁄4 in) Kim Attlesey 5.88 m (19 ft 3+1⁄4 in)
Shot put Maren Seidler 16.28 m (53 ft 4+3⁄4 in) Lynn Graham 15.30 m (50 ft 2+1⁄4 in) Mary Jacobsen 14.87 m (48 ft 9+1⁄4 in)
Discus throw Olga Connolly 51.92 m (170 ft 4 in) Vivian Turner 48.80 m (160 ft 1 in) Denise Wood 45.41 m (148 ft 11 in)
Javelin throw Kate Schmidt 60.28 m (197 ft 9 in) Sherry Calvert 54.40 m (178 ft 5 in) Roberta Brown 52.00 m (170 ft 7 in)
Pentathlon Jennifer Meldrum  Canada
Jane Frederick		 4251
4169 		Penny May  Canada
Marilyn King		 4202
4064 		Gale Fitzgerald 4034

External links

References

  1. ^ Putnam, Pat (July 10, 1972). "Just a guy having some fun". Sports Illustrated. p. 20.
  2. ^ "Ryun, Lindgren are sentimental favorites". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. June 29, 1972. p. 12.
  3. ^ "Attendance chart for the trials". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). July 10, 1972. p. 4B.
  4. ^ "Three American records fall in trials". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 9, 1972. p. 2C.
  5. ^ Tricard, Louise Mead (January 1996). American Women's Track and Field: A History, 1895 Through 1980. ISBN 9780786402199.
  6. ^ a b "The ones who made it". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). July 10, 1972. p. 4B.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_United_States_Olympic_Trials_(track_and_field)