Suspended: Sha’Carri Richardson, 22
For 1 month, starting June 28, plus loss of her OT-winning 100 performance, for a positive cannabis test.
Died: Paula Cacchi, 75
On June 11, in Rome. The women’s middle-distance running pioneer won 1500 bronze in ’72 after not making it out of the ’68 heats in the 800. She also captured World XC titles in ’73 & ’74, along with a victory at its forerunner, the International XC Champs, in ’70. She also set 8 WRs at distances from 1500 to 10,000. World Ranked 4 times in the 1500, with a high of No. 1 in ’70.
Died: Josh Culbreath, 88
On July 08, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Morgan State hurdler won 3 AAU titles at the 400 hurdles (1953-55). He captured the ’56 Olympic bronze and took gold at the ’55 & ’59 Pan-Ams. Claimed a 440yH WR in ’57. An 8-time World Ranker, he was No. 2 in ’55 & ’57.
Died: Craig Dixon, 94
On February 25, in Westwood, California. As a UCLA high hurdler won an NCAA/AAU double in ’49, also winning the NCAA 220 lows that year. He fell in the ’52 Olympic Trials. A 5-time World Ranker, he was No. 1 in ’49.
Died: Steve Gough, 73
On May 21, in Seattle; of a heart attack. As a Seattle Pacific decathlete he won the first NCAA title in the event, the College Division version, in ’70. He World Ranked No. 8 in ’75; he made the U.S. Rankings 7 times and was No. 2 in ’73.
Died: Abdalelah Haroun, 24
On June 26, in Doha; in a car accident. The Qatari sprinter won bronze in the ’17 World Champs 400. He had captured the World Indoor silver the previous year. The 3-time World Ranker had a high of No. 2 in ’18 when he set his PR of 44.07. In ’16 ran the fastest indoor 500 ever, 59.43.
Died: Roberto Hernández, 54
On July 05, in Havana; of heart disease. The 44.14 performer was part of the bronze-medal winning 4×4 at the ’87 WC as well as the team that won silver at the ’92 OG. A 6-time World Ranker, he peaked at No. 4 in ’90 and ’91.
Died: Galina Kostenko, 82
On July 03. A ’64 Olympian, the 2-time Soviet champ World-Ranked twice in the high jump, with No. 8s in ’63 & ’65.
Died: Dieter Lindner, 84
In June, in Halle, Germany. The silver medalist in the ’64 Olympics 20K walk after a 4th in ’60, the East German also had a pair of WRs to his name.
Died: John McDonnell, 82
On June 07, in Fayetteville, Arkansas; of complications related to Alzheimer’s. The legendary Arkansas coach had an appreciation in the July issue’s Last Lap.
Died: Adrian Metcalfe, 79
On July 02; he had been known to be of failing health in recent years. The second leg on Britain’s silver medal 4×4 at the ’64 Olympics, Metcalfe ranked No. 1 in the world in the 400 as a teenager in ’61, and 8 in ’63. He went on to become a noted TV commentator.
Died: Rick Mitchell, 66
On May 30, in Brisbane, Australia; of prostate cancer. The Olympic silver medalist in ’80 with a PR 44.84 after a 6th in ’76, he World Ranked twice, with a No. 2 in ’80. Ran on the Aussie 4×4 in ’76, ’80 & ’84.
Died: Janet Moreau, 93
On June 30, in Barrington, Rhode Island. After not advancing from the 100 heats, ran third leg on the winning 4×1 at the ’52 Olympics as the team set a WR 45.9.
Died: Vera Nikolić, 73
On June 28, in Belgrade, Serbia; of a stroke. The 2-time European champ in the 800 (’66 & ’71), she set a World Record of 2:00.5 in ’68. A 7-time World Ranker, she was No. 1 in both ’66 & ’71. Twice ran the 800 for Yugoslavia in the Olympics, finishing 5th in ’72.
Died: Manfred Ommer, 70
On May 21. A ‘72 West German Olympian, he World Ranked No. 7 in the 200 in ’74. He also set World Indoor Records at 50y and 200m.
Died: Dick Railsback, 75
On June 30, in Boise, Idaho. As a vaulter at UCLA, he placed 3rd in the ’67 NCAA. The next year he won the AAU title and placed 4th in the OT, losing an Olympic berth on the countback. A 6-time U.S.-Ranker, he World Ranked 3 times, topped by a No. 4 in ’69. Went on to become well known as an apostle of the event.
Died: Bernice Robinson, 92
On October 14, 2019, in Ohio. The AAU champion in the 80H in ’48 & ’49, she also won the indoor 50yH in ’49 and made the ’48 Olympic team in both the hurdles and high jump.
Died: Milka Singh, 91
On June 18, in Chandigarh, India; of C19. He placed 4th in the ’60 Olympic 400, missing the bronze by just 0.01. He made the World Rankings 3 times, with No. 4s in ’58 & ’60.
Died: Slavko Špan, 83
On June 12. A 2-time World Ranker in the steeplechase for Yugoslavia, the Slovenian World Ranked No. 6 in ’63. Ran in the heats of the ’64 Olympics.
Died: Joan Ullyot, 80
On June 18, in Snowmass Village, Colorado; of a heart attack. An early marathon pioneer who became a powerful advocate for women’s long distance running, her research was instrumental in the women’s 26-miler being included in the ’84 Olympics.
Died: Willie White, 83
On June 29, in San Francisco. 4th in the NCAA 100y in ’60 for Cal and then 6th in the OT, he ran on a pair of WR sprint medleys for the Bears. A 2-time World Ranker, he was No. 4 in ’57.
Died: Gary Wieneke, 83
On July 8; of cancer. The 36-year Illinois coach led his team to 13 Big 10 titles and 4 NCAA Indoor crowns; he is a member of the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame. ◻︎