Track and Field Black History

A Conversation with World Champion and 3-Time Olympian Mark Everett

Mark Everett is a 3-time Olympian, World Champion and World Record Holder in the 600 yards. With personal bests of 44.59 and 1:43.20, he is still easily one of the best 400/800 combination runners in history.

In our conversation, we touch upon various topics including, being born in Brooklyn but growing up in Florida, his entry into T&F, his relationships with other athletes in different events and how they helped him during and after his career, and we dive to how the sport is represented today and how athletes at all levels of success can really leverage social media to tell more compelling stories to draw fans in.

We also discuss how, if he competed in the 400m Hurdles, he could have run under 46 seconds!

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

When Merlene Ottey became the first Jamaican Woman to win an Olympic Medal

Over the course of 30 plus years, Merlene Ottey competed in 7 Olympic Games, 9 World Championships, and earned almost 40 global medals both indoors and outdoors. Her longevity and career accolades led to her being called the "Queen of the Track”. 

Though she has already been running for a few years, after watching Jamaica’s Don Quarrie’s win Olympic 200m Gold and 100m Silver medal at the 1976 Olympics, Ottey was further inspired to one day become an Olympic medalist herself.

Ottey won her first major medal at the 1979 Pan American Games when she finished 3rd place in the 200m. This would be a prelude to her Olympic success as just a year later, at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, she earned a Bronze medal in the 200m, becoming the first ever Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

A Conversation with 2-time Olympic Champion Antonio McKay

Antonio Mckay is a 2-time Olympic Champion, 2-time World Indoor Champion and 440-yard Indoor World Record holder. Along with names like Steve Lewis, Alonzo Babers, Butch Reynolds and Danny Everrett, McKay was part of a Golden age of 400m sprinting in the 1980s. 

In our conversation, we touch upon various topics including, growing up in Atlanta and his entry into T&F, the competition and camaraderie between him and other 400m runners, why he preferred running Indoors to Outdoors, managing finances as a professional T&F athlete, and why T&F doesn't get as much recognition in the sports world today.

We also discuss how more current 400m runners should take a shot at the 800m instead of moving down to the 200m!

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

The Story of The 1968 Olympic Men’s 4x400m Relay

At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, the United States 4x400m Relay team composed of Vincent Matthews, Ron Freeman, Larry James and Lee Evans won the Gold medal and broke the world record in one of the most impressive performances in the history of the sport.

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

 

Tessa Sanderson - Great Britain’s Javelin Olympic Gold Medalist

In 1984, Tessa Sanderson became the first Black athlete and first British athlete to win Olympic Gold in the Javelin Throw.

Follow Track and Field Black History on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

The Black Women of the 1948 US Olympic Team

At the 1948 Olympic Games, the US Women’s Olympic team consisted of 12 women, 9 of whom were Black women, which was a huge milestone for representation of Black Women in Athletics.

Follow Track and Field Black History on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Marilyn Fay Neufville - Jamaica’s First Women’s World Record Holder

At the 1970 Commonwealth Games, Marilyn Fay Neufville became the first Jamaican woman to break a World Record in Track & Field and still to this day, the only Black woman to hold the 400m World Record. Her perofrmance and career set the foundation for generations of Jamaican sprinters from Merlene Ottey and Deon Hemmings to Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

 

Follow Track and Field Black History on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Willie Davenport - The First Black Athlete to Compete at the Winter Olympic Games

In 1980, Willie Davenport became the first Black athlete to compete at the Winter Olympic Games. Along with competing in the 110m Hurdles in 4 consecutive Olympics from 1964 to 1976, he also became the first Black athlete to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

 

Follow Track and Field Black History on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Kim Batten and Tonja Buford-Bailey in the 400mH at the 1995 World Championships

In 1995, Kim Batten and Tonja Buford-Bailey of the United States made history. At the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, both ladies ended up in a thrilling race that would see them go under the previous world record at the time, and for the first time ever, a Black Woman would win a gold medal in the 400m Hurdles.

Follow Track and Field Black History on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory/

Eddie Tolan and Ralph Metcalfe in the 100m Dash at the 1932 Olympic Games

The Men’s 100m Dash final at the 1932 Olympic Games was a historic set of firsts. Eddie Tolan became the first Black athlete to win Olympic 100m Gold. Tolan’s close finish with Ralph Metcalfe was also the first time photo finish technology had been put to the test in a high profile 100m final. The contentious results would lead to rule changes in how athletes are understood to win a race and would also set the foundation for Black athletes dominating the 100m for years to come.

 

Follow Track and Field Black History on Instagram: instagram.com/trackandfieldblackhistory