Walt Murphy’s News and Results Service ([email protected])
This Day in Track & Field–April 21
(Bill Rodgers, Rutgers Protest, Rosie Ruiz, 2014-Boston/Birthdays-Tinsley, Engquist, Shinnick)
1934–Stanford’s John Lyman, who finished 4th at the 1932 U.S. Olympic Trials, set a World Record in the Shot Put with his throw of 54-1 (16.48m) in Palo Alto.
WR Progression: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men’s_shot_put_world_record_progression
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lyman_(athlete)
Boston Marathon, the first win by Bill Rodgers
1975–Not universally known yet as Bill, “Will” Rodgers, as his name was reported in the Boston Globe, won the first of his four Boston Marathon titles, running 2:09:55 to set an “American Record”. West Germany’s Liane Winter set a “World Record” of 2:42:24 in the Women’s division. The record setters benefited from a strong tailwind.
Less than two weeks earlier, Rodgers received a letter from Steve Prefontaine. Present congratulations to Bill for his bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Rabat, Morocco, in March of ’75. He also sent Bill a pair of training shoes and a pair of “Boston ’73” racing shoes. Pre said he had heard from Jeff Galloway, Bill’s college teammate at Wesleyan, that Bill was interested in trying “our” shoes. Long before Nike became a corporate giant, it seems that Bill Bowerman, the legendary University of Oregon coach, and possibly even Pre himself, were making shoes at Bowerman’s house. They were interested in how top athletes reacted to their shoes. Bill was one of these athletes. (The shoes were a bit large, and he would have to stop and tie them up for better support!).
Other notable finishers
Men: 3. Tom Fleming 2:12:05…5.Ron Hill (GBR) 2:13:28
Women: 2. Kathrine Switzer 2:51:37
BILL RODGERS ON-THE-RUN: REMEMBERING HIS 1975 BOSTON MARATHON WIN
Hall of Fame Bio: https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/bill-rodgers
Villanova dominates Rutgers Relays
1979—(From the NY Times Archives): As expected, Villanova dominated the Rutgers Relays today, winning four of the eight championship races.
But the most dramatic moment of the two-day track and field carnival at Rutgers Stadium was an unexpected 35-minute protest demonstration by about 150 black students from Rutgers and its affiliated colleges.
The students filed into the west stands of the stadium and then onto the backstretch of the all‐weather synthetic track during the final lap of the 6,400‐meter relay, disregarding pleas over the public address system from Les Wallack, the Rutgers coach, that a race was in progress. Sydney Maree, the Villanova anchorman, was leading the field and was already into the final turn as the group began marching around the track. Chanting, “We’re mad as hell, mad as hell, we ain’t gonna take no more,” the students closed off five of the six lanes, leaving only the inside lane for the remaining runners to complete the race.
Read the full story at:
https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/22/archives/rutgers-relays-draw-a-protest-villanova-captures-4-of-8-races.html
The Rosie Ruiz Situation
1980—Rosie Ruiz etched her name in sporting history, but for the wrong reason. Celebrated as the first woman to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon, it didn’t take long for officials to void her “win” after determining that she had jumped into the race with less than a ½-mile to go! Canada’s Jaquelene Gareau (2:34:28) was then declared the official women’s race.
Bill Rodgers (2:12:11) won the Men’s title for the 3rd year in a row (4th overall).
Since Ruiz had qualified for Boston with a time from the NY City Marathon the previous fall, NY officials conducted their own investigation and retroactively disqualified her for apparently riding the subway to the finish line!
Video (Includes a post-race interview conducted by a skeptical Kathrine Switzer!)
http://citiusmag.com/rosie-ruiz-wins-boston-marathon-1980-cheater-exposed/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz
http://time.com/3822577/rosie-ruiz-history/
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rosie-ruiz-fakes-boston-marathon-win
A Light-Hearted Look: http://www.espn.com/olympics/columns/story?columnist=wojnarowski_adrian&id=2039568
1985–Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen set a World Record of 2:21:06 in the London Marathon. Steve Jones of Wales won the Men’s race in 2:08:16.
http://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/22/sports/kristiansen-wins-london-marathon.html?pagewanted=all
Top-20: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_London_Marathon
Past winners: http://www.uli-sauer.de/laufen/london/hall_of_fame_e.htm
Wiki Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingrid_Kristiansen
Full Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipG2VJx4II4
1996—UCLA senior Ato Boldon set a Div.I have a Collegiate Record of 9.93 for 100 meters at the Mt.SAC Relays in Walnut, CA. He would improve the record to 9.92 while winning the NCAA title in June. The Record stood for 15 years before Florida State’s Ngoni Makusha ran 9.89 in 2011.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ato_Boldon
2014—With the thoughts of the bombings at the previous year’s race fresh in everyone’s mind, the Men’s race at this year’s Boston Marathon provided the emotional lift that was needed as Meb Keflezighi became the first American to win the race since Greg Meyer finished first in 1983. His time was a personal best of 2:08:37.
Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo was the first woman to cross the finish line, but she was later stripped of her title due to doping violations. Ethiopia’s Buzunesh Deba was elevated to the winner’s position, and her time of 2:19:59 established a Course Record. Local hero Shalane Flanagan set a fast early pace before finishing 5th in 2:22:02, the fastest time ever run by an American woman in Boston.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/sports/meb-keflezighi-an-american-wins-boston-marathon.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Boston_Marathon
https://www.cnn.com/2014/04/21/us/boston-marathon/index.html
Videos
Boston Strong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU3KBdbLX8I
SI Coverage:
https://www.si.com/si-wire/2014/04/16/boston-one-year-later-more-than-3000-strong-on-this-weeks-si-cover
2017—South Dakota freshman Chris Nilsen cleared 18-9 ½ (5.73) in Sioux City, Iowa, to set an American Junior Record in the Pole Vault. He would improve the mark to 18-10 ¼ (5.75) while finishing 3rd at the U.S. Championships in June (Since broken by Mondo Duplantis).
After winning his 3rd NCAA title (2017,2018,2019/Indoor), Nilsen passed up a chance to join the professional ranks after his junior year, choosing instead to return to South Dakota, not only to compete for his school for one more year, but also to concentrate on getting his degree in kinesiology and sport science.
“Having that financial security (having a degree) was a priority, because (my wife and son) are my priority,” Nilsen said in July, 2019. “Pole vault is fun, and I enjoy doing it, but it’s kind of up and down financially. Also getting to compete with USD for another year because they’ve done so much for me. Just repaying them by doing all four of my years and hopefully coming back as an assistant coach would be great.”
Alas, his collegiate career was cut short when the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, but his pro career has blossomed, winning the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the bronze medal at the 2022 World Indoor Championships, the silver medal at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, and the bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships. He also set an American Record of 19-10 ¼ (6.05) indoors in March, 2022.
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/sports/usds-chris-nilsen-sets-his-sights-on-tokyo-after-2020-ncaa-season-canceled/
2025(new)—Ideal conditions led to fast times in both the women’s and men’s races at the Boston Marathon.
Sharon Lokedi won the women’s race in 2:17:22, smashing the previous course record of 2:19:59. Also under that mark was fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri (2:17:41), who was trying to win here for the 3rd year in a row, and Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw (2:18:06).
Americans Jessica McClain (2:22:43) and Annie Frisbie (2:23:21) finished 7th & 8th, respectively.
Despite falling right after the start and somehow avoiding getting trampled by the hordes of runners who went by him, Kenyan John Korir broke the men’s race wide open with a dramatic surge at the 20-mile mark and went on to win in 2:04:45, the 2nd fastest time ever in Boston. He was greeted at the finish line by his brother Wesley, who won Boston in 2012. They are the only siblings to win the Boston Marathons.
April 21, 2025
Boston, Massachusetts, USA, photo by Kevin Morris
Meanwhile, there was a great battle for the remaining two spots on the podium between Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu and Kenya’s Sybrian Kotut, with the former getting the nod in a near dead-heat (2:05:04 for both).
After running with the leaders for most of the race, Conner Mantz finished 4th in 2:05:08, the 2nd-fastest time ever run by an American (Ryan Hall ran 2:04:58 in Boston in 2011). His training partner (and former BYU teammate) Clayton Young finished 7th in 2:07:04. A 3rd American, Ryan Ford, finished 10th in 2:08:00. Mantz, who had to skip Boston in 2026 due to an injury, would set an American Record of 2:04:43 in Chicago in October.
The Grand Marshals for the race were Bill Rodgers and Bob Hall, “the father of wheelchair racing”. Both were winners of their respective divisions at the 1975 race. Sadly, Hall, the first wheelchair winner in Boston, passed away on Sunday at the age of 74.
https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/lokedi-korir-boston-marathon-course-record-2025
https://www.letsrun.com/news/2025/04/conner-mantz-breaks-through-with-20508-pb-to-finish-4th-at-2025-boston-marathon/
https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a64524173/conner-mantz-american-men-2025-boston-marathon/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Boston_Marathon
Mantz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIEnm5Rdnj0
Bob Hall: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/17/sports/bob-hall-dead.html
Born On This Day*
Michael Tinsley 42 (1984) 2006 NCAA Champion—400-meter hurdles (Jackson State)
Silver medalist 2012 Olympics and 2013 World Championships (outleaned by Trinidad & Tobago’s Jehue Gordon,
47.69-47.70)
Made his 2nd Olympic team in 2016, but was eliminated in the 1st round in Rio.
World Rankings-’06-10, ’11-10, ’12-4, ’13-2, ’14-2, ’15-6, ’16-5;
Currently the head coach at Concordia (TX)
PB:47.70 (2013)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Tinsley
https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/united-states/michael-tinsley-205322
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/126801
Inspirational Speaker: https://mrtinsley.com/
Phil Shinnick 83 (1943) 1964 U.S. Olympian—Long Jump (qual round);
All-American at Washington (NCAA-1963/6th, 1964/3rd)
Jumped 27-4 (8.33) at the 1963 California Relays in Modesto (beating Ralph Boston). That was better than Soviet
Igor Ter-Ovanesyan’s world record of 27-3 ¼ (8.31m), but no wind-reading
was taken and the mark was not submitted for ratification.
Claiming the wind was below the allowable limit, Shinnick lobbied for decades to have the mark recognized as an
American Record, and, ignoring the recommendation of its own Records Committee, USATF retroactively
ratified the mark in 2003. USATF submitted a World Record application to the IAAF, which again rejected the
mark, because then, as now, a wind gauge reading was a requirement for World Records.”
Most people in the sport thought that was the end of Shinnick’s quest for recognition, but others continued the figh on his behalf.
From Spokane’s The Spokesman-Review: “Eighteen years later, it was recognized as a world record. Shinnick said a letter from University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce and athletic director Jen Cohen to the IAAF
President Sebastian Coe was crucial. ‘That letter triggered the whole thing,’ Shinnick said. ‘Without that letter, this wouldn’t have happened. What they did was very significant, and it caused Seb Coe to take action.’
(In 2020) Coe referred the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.” The arbiter ruled in Shinnick’s favor, and he was presented with an official World Record plaque by none other than current WR holder Mike Powell at Hayward Field in Eugene during the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials!
Was a prominent social activist during the 1960s (see links)
https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/79037
https://www.si.com/college/washington/legends/phil-shinnick-gets-his-long-jump-record-58-years-later
Finally!: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/nov/27/journey-to-justice-how-former-husky-phil-shinnick-/
