1976 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

1976 United States Olympic
track and field trials
Hayward Field years later
DatesJune 19–27, 1976
Host cityEugene, Oregon, U.S.
VenueHayward Field
LevelSenior
TypeOutdoor

The 1976 United States Olympic trials for track and field were held June 19–27 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.[1][2] These were the last organized by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU); the Amateur Sports Act of 1978 was passed two years later which formed the new national governing body for the sport of track and field, The Athletics Congress. The 1970s was a transitional period where amateur athletes were seeking ways to be paid for their athletic efforts. Many athletes had sacrificed their eligibility to run professionally, others made the attempt and were in transition to regain their amateur status.

The trials for the men's marathon was held in Eugene a month earlier on May 22.[3][4][5] The longest race for women at the 1976 Olympics was the 1500 meters,[2][6] but eventual Olympic marathoners Joan Benoit, Julie Brown, and Francie Larrieu all participated.[citation needed]

For the first time, the men's 50 km race walk was not part of the Olympics, but returned in 1980.

High school athletes Houston McTear, Dwayne Evans, Chandra Cheeseborough, Sheila Ingram, Rhonda Brady, Paula Girven, and Kathy McMillan were successful in these trials.

Men's results

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

Men track events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
100 meters
Wind +1.8 		Harvey Glance 10.11 Houston McTear 10.16 Steve Riddick 10.18
200 meters
Wind +1.7 		Millard Hampton 20.10 Dwayne Evans 20.22 Mark Lutz 20.42
400 meters Maxie Parks 45.58 Fred Newhouse 45.76 Herm Frazier 45.84
800 meters Rick Wohlhuter 1:44.78 James Robinson 1:45.86 Mark Enyeart 1:46.28
1500 meters Rick Wohlhuter 3:36.47 Matt Centrowitz 3:36.70 Mike Durkin 3:36.72
5000 meters Dick Buerkle 13:26.60 Duncan MacDonald 13:29.46 Paul Geis 13.38.46
10,000 meters Frank Shorter 27:55.45 Craig Virgin 27:59.43 Garry Bjorklund 28:03.74
110 m hurdles
Wind +2.2 		Charles Foster 13.44w (13.2h) Willie Davenport 13.52w James Owens 13.57w
400 m hurdles Edwin Moses 48.30 NR Quentin Wheeler 48.65 Mike Shine 49.33
3000 m s'chase Doug Brown 8.27.39 Henry Marsh 8.27.42 Mike Roche 8.32.70
20K racewalk Todd Scully 1:25:29 Ron Laird 1:25:44 Larry Walker 1:25:57
Marathon Frank Shorter 2:11:51 Bill Rodgers 2:11:59 Don Kardong 2:13:54

Source:[7]

Men field events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
High jump Bill Jankunis 2.28 m (7 ft 5+3⁄4 in) Dwight Stones 2.25 m (7 ft 4+1⁄2 in) James Barrineau 2.25 m (7 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
Pole vault Dave Roberts 5.70 m (18 ft 8+1⁄4 in) WR Earl Bell 5.50 m (18 ft 1⁄2 in) Terry Porter 5.50 m (18 ft 1⁄2 in)
Long jump Arnie Robinson 8.37 m (27 ft 5+1⁄2 in)w +3.5 Larry Myricks 8.26 m (27 ft 1 in)w +3.8 Randy Williams 8.18 m (26 ft 10 in)w +2.7
Triple jump James Butts 17.29 m (56 ft 8+1⁄2 in)w +2.9 Tommy Haynes 17.02 m (55 ft 10 in)w +2.8 Rayfield Dupree 17.01 m (55 ft 9+1⁄2 in)w +2.8
Shot put Al Feuerbach 21.12 m (69 ft 3+1⁄4 in) George Woods 21.10 m (69 ft 2+1⁄2 in) Pete Shmock 20.96 m (68 ft 9 in)
Discus throw Mac Wilkins 68.32 m (224 ft 1 in) John Powell 67.34 m (220 ft 11 in) Jay Silvester 64.74 m (212 ft 4 in)
Hammer throw Larry Hart 67.84 m (222 ft 6 in) Ted Bregar 67.48 m (221 ft 4 in) Alvin Jackson 66.60 m (218 ft 6 in)
Javelin throw Sam Colson 84.18 m (276 ft 2 in) Richard George 82.22 m (269 ft 9 in) Anthony Hall 81.58 m (267 ft 7 in)
Decathlon Caitlyn Jenner[a] 8538 WR Fred Dixon 8294 Fred Samara 8004

Source:[7]

Women's results

Women track events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
100 meters
Wind +1.95 		Brenda Morehead 11.08 Chandra Cheeseborough 11.13 Evelyn Ashford 11.22
200 meters
Wind +2.3 		Brenda Morehead 22.49w Chandra Cheeseborough 22.64w Debra Armstrong 22.74w
400 meters Sheila Ingram 52.69 Debra Sapenter 52.73 Rosalyn Bryant 52.76
800 meters Madeline Jackson 1:59.81 NR Cyndy Poor 2:00.55 Kathy Weston 2:00.73
1500 meters Cyndy Poor 4:07.32 NR Jan Merrill 4:07.35 Francie Larrieu 4:08.08
100 m hurdles
Wind +2.3 		Rhonda Brady 13.25w Deby LaPlante 13.27 Pat Donnelly 13.36

Source:[7]

Women field events

Event Gold Silver Bronze
High jump Paula Girven 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Joni Huntley 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄4 in) Pam Spencer 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄4 in)
Long jump Kathy McMillan 6.78 m (22 ft 2+3⁄4 in)w Sherron Walker 6.61 m (21 ft 8 in)w Martha Watson 6.55 m (21 ft 5+3⁄4 in)w
Shot put Maren Seidler 16.25 m (53 ft 3+3⁄4 in) Kathy Devine 15.54 m (50 ft 11+3⁄4 in) Mary Jacobsen 14.71 m (48 ft 3 in)
Discus throw Lynne Winbigler 50.65 m (166 ft 2 in) Jan Svendsen 50.27 m (164 ft 11 in) Monette Driscoll 48.93 m (160 ft 6 in)
Javelin throw Kate Schmidt 65.04 m (213 ft 4 in) Sherry Calvert 58.40 m (191 ft 7 in) Karin Smith 57.22 m (187 ft 8 in)
Pentathlon Jane Frederick 4622 Gale Fitzgerald 4417 Marilyn King 4374

Source:[7]

Notes

  1. ^ Known as Bruce Jenner until her gender transition in 2015.[8]

References

  1. ^ Newnham, Blaine (June 19, 1976). "They're off". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1A. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Trials schedule". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). June 19, 1976. p. 3B. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Shorter expects tight marathon". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. May 21, 1976. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Marathon course". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). May 21, 1976. p. 1B. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  5. ^ Conrad, John (May 23, 1976). "A nice run in the park for Shorter". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  6. ^ Kayfes, Dave (June 27, 1976). "The final today is what matters". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 4B. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "They survived the Trials to make it to Montreal". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). June 28, 1976. p. 5B. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  8. ^ Bissinger, Buzz (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.